Yes

Most medicines for colds, flu-like symptoms, or stomach issues can be used in people with type 1 diabetes. Being sick can cause higher or lower blood sugar, so monitor blood sugar closely and regularly check ketones when sick.

Some medicine labels mention diabetes because they have sugar in them which can raise blood sugar. It is okay to take these medicines. Steroid medicines (like Prednisone, Dexamethasone, Fluticasone, or Betamethasone) cause a bigger rise in blood sugar. If you need to take steroids for several days and blood sugars stay high, contact your doctor or nurse to discuss adjusting your insulin doses.

Some glucose sensors may be less accurate when taking high doses of acetaminophen (Tylenol) or vitamin C (ascorbic acid):

• Dexcom sensors can be less accurate if taking over 1000 milligrams of acetaminophen every 6 hours.
• Freestyle Libre sensors can be less accurate if taking more than 1000 milligrams of vitamin C per day.

For general advice about treating or testing for common illnesses, please contact your primary care doctor’s office or go to an urgent care or emergency room. Calls sent to us for these issues will only focus on diabetes management.

For diabetes management when sick, please refer to your Sick Day Plan on MyChart under the “letters” section. Sick Day Plans recommend checking blood sugar and ketones more often, drinking more fluids, and giving extra insulin if ketones are moderate or large.

To find your plan on the MyChart app or website go to the menu (button with 3 lines on the top left) and scroll to the Letters section. Use the most recent sick day plan listed.

If your child can swallow, continue to give them sugary liquids (juice, soda, pop) or glucose tablets every 15 minutes until blood sugar is above 70 mg/dl. You may need to repeat this several times until you see the blood sugar go above 70. Once the sugar rises, consider giving them a solid snack like a granola bar, bread, or crackers with peanut butter.

If they won’t eat or drink but are awake and interacting with you, rub honey, syrup or cake gel in their mouth between the cheeks and gums. Massage their cheeks to help it absorb.

Use Glucagon if your child is unconscious, having a seizure, or refusing food or drink and acting confused.

Glucose sensors take a few minutes to catch up to actual blood sugar levels. Use a blood glucose meter for more accurate readings when blood sugar is changing quickly.

If your child does not have  nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain, and they can drink fluids, then follow their Sick Day Plan.

• Repeat blood sugar correction insulin doses up to every 2 hours
• Drink extra fluids
  

High blood sugar and ketones may take several hours and several correction insulin doses to improve. If you’ve given at least two correction insulin doses by injection (not through an insulin pump) and there is still no improvement in blood sugar or ketones, call the on-call physician.

If your child is acting confused, has slurred speech, is breathing rapidly, or seems lethargic or less alert, call 911.

Give the long-acting insulin as soon as you realize a dose was missed.

Accidents happen and there may come a time that you forget to give your long-acting insulin (examples: Lantus, Basaglar, Tresiba, Semglee). As soon as you remember, give the dose.

Long-acting insulin lasts about 24 hours. If the dose was given late, to get back to your typical dosing time you need to adjust the time of the dose a few hours each day until you're back on your normal schedule. This will prevent overlap of doses. For example, if you usually give long-acting insulin at bedtime but gave it the next day at breakfast, you can give the dose a few hours later each day until you get back to your bedtime schedule.

Our office does not refill glucose sensor supplies after 4:45 pm or on weekends/ holidays. If you run out, please use your blood sugar meter until we can send refills during normal business hours (8 AM – 4:45 PM Monday to Friday).

Unless you are completely out of insulin or will run out before our office is open (8 AM), do not call after hours or on weekends/ holidays for insulin refills. Please wait until the next business day to call clinic staff to get an insulin refill ordered. You can also submit a request through the MyChart portal.

Unless your child has been diagnosed with diabetes for less than 1 week, please do not call after hours or on weekends for non-urgent insulin dose changes. These questions should be sent during business hours or can be sent via MyChart and will be answered when our clinic is open.