Emergency treatment for people with diabetes when they are sick

During a diabetic illness, if blood sugar is not well controlled, serious situations may occur, and they must seek help in time.

Contact your treatment provider as soon as possible if:

・Body temperature ≥38 ℃ (100.4 H) for more than 24 hours.

・Symptoms of skin infection, such as increased redness and swelling or smelly discharge.

・Symptoms of urinary tract infection, such as frequent urination, urgency, and painful urination.

・ Coughing with phlegm or more phlegm than usual.

・Blood sugar is higher than the target range for more than 3 consecutive days.

・You will need some equipment or supplies to continue managing your diabetes while you are sick.

・You are not sure what to do.

When contacting your diabetes care team, it's a good idea to have the following information on hand:

・ Blood glucose test results

・Insulin injection dosage

・Urine ketone body test results

・Food intake record

・ Symptoms of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia

・Symptoms of the disease, time of onset and related treatments received

Take note of the treatment recommendations given by your diabetes care team. If you don’t understand something about the treatment recommendations, please ask.

If the following situation occurs, do not hesitate to call 120:

・ Vomiting or diarrhea and inability to drink liquids.

・ Moderate to severe abdominal pain.

・ Shortness of breath.

・Weakness, dizziness or confusion, seizure or loss of consciousness.

・ Others say your breath smells fruity.

If a person with diabetes is sick, do not carry it alone. You must let your family know. It is best to have family members take care of you. If not, contact your family members immediately once the symptoms of illness worsen. If you want to go to the hospital, do not walk there alone to avoid hypoglycemia caused by walking. Therefore, it is best to take a taxi to the hospital accompanied by your family, or wait for medical staff to pick you up.

People with diabetes are more "vulnerable" than normal people when they are sick, so if you are unable to manage your blood sugar well, please don't forget to seek help from professional therapists.