4. Keep taking diabetes medications.

A patient still needs to take his diabetes medications when he's sick, even if he's throwing up or unable to eat much. His body continues to need these drugs to help make the extra glucose necessary during ill health.

In some situations, he may just need to take his regular diabetes pills; in others he may have to use insulin for a short period of time. As always, any changes in his treatment plan should be discussed with his main diabetes doctor.

5. Drink plenty of water.

Dehydration is a major concern among older, ill adults with diabetes, who may not recognize signs of thirst until their bodies are dangerously depleted of fluids. This can spiral into potentially life-threatening conditions. In addition, it's easy for a patient to get dehydrated if he's vomiting or has diarrhea or a fever.

As a general guide, he should drink eight ounces of calorie-free fluid such as water for every hour he's awake. Offer small sips every 10 to 15 minutes if drinking is a challenge.

6. Stock up on sick-day snacks.

Eating can be tricky when someone is sick -- he may not have an appetite, or he may be unable to keep food down. If he's too sick to stick with his regular meal plan, you need to help him find ways to try to take in a sufficient number of calories. To prepare for such sick days, have a stash of nonperishable, easy-on-the-stomach foods at home, such as vegetable or chicken broth, clear soups, applesauce, crackers, or regular gelatin.

Perishable sick-day snacks to pick up for him include frozen juice bars, sherbet, pudding, yogurt, or similar soft foods or high-carbohydrate liquids. Just make sure to pay attention to the "use by" date on the packaging.

The goal is to try to have a patient eat 50 grams of carbohydrates every three to four hours. As a general guide, one cup of soup, six saltine crackers, one-half cup of apple juice, one-half of a banana, and one-third cup of frozen yogurt contain around 15 grams of carbs each.