Insulet OmniPod - Handling Special Situations; Sick Days; Exercising, Playing Sports, or Working Hard

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9
Living with Diabetes
108
■ Handling Special Situations
Sick days
Any physical stress can cause your blood glucose to rise, and ill-
ness is a physical stress. Your healthcare provider can help you
make a plan for sick days. The following are only general
guidelines.
When you are ill, check your blood glucose more often (at least
once every 2 hours) to avoid DKA. The symptoms of DKA are
much like those of the flu. Before assuming you have the flu,
check your blood glucose to rule out DKA (see ”Diabetic ketoaci-
dosis (DKA)” earlier in this chapter).
To handle sick days
• Treat the underlying illness to promote faster recovery.
• Eat as normally as you can.
• Adjust bolus doses, if necessary, to match changes in meals
and snacks.
• Always continue your basal insulin, even if you are unable to
eat. Contact your healthcare provider for suggested basal
rate adjustments during sick days.
• Check your blood glucose every 2 hours and keep careful
records of results.
• Check for ketones when blood glucose is 250 mg/dL or
higher.
• Follow your healthcare provider’s guidelines for taking addi-
tional insulin on sick days.
• Drink plenty of noncaffeinated fluids to prevent dehydration.
• Call your healthcare provider immediately if you have:
• Persistent nausea
• Vomiting for more than 2 hours
• High blood glucose or ketones that stay high even
though you take extra insulin
• Low blood glucose with nausea and vomiting
Exercising, playing sports, or working hard
Check your blood glucose levels before, during, and after exercis-
ing, playing sports, or doing unusually hard physical labor.
The OmniPod’s adhesive keeps it securely in place for up to 3
days. However, if necessary, several products are available to
enhance adhesion. Ask your healthcare provider about these
products.
Avoid getting body lotion, creams, or oils near the infusion site;
these products may loosen the adhesive.
If you are well enough to eat, drink sugar-free bever-
ages. However, if you are too sick to eat solid foods,
alternate between sugar-free beverages and those
containing sugar.