Quick summary

It's important to have a sick-day plan in place for the times someone with type 2 diabetes gets a cold, flu, or other illness, as being sick can boost his blood glucose levels to potentially harmful levels. Follow these eight guidelines to help make sure he manages his diabetes even when he's under the weather.

1. Make a sick-day plan.

Along with his doctor or diabetes educator, help the person in your care prepare for illness by coming up with a strategy to deal with sick days. That way, when trouble strikes, you'll both be ready.

The plan, kept in a handy place such as a sick-day notebook or sheet taped to the fridge, should include information such as:

• How often he should check blood sugar and ketone levels
• What medicines to take
• How to adjust insulin dosage, if he uses insulin
• What kinds of food to eat
• When to call his diabetes team
• Contact details for his doctors, diabetes educator, and dietitian, including emergency and after-hours numbers
• Contact details for a family member or friend who can check in with him often to help monitor his health