Diabetes: Caring for Your Diabetes at Special Time (cont.)

• Follow your meal plan.
  
  
• Don't skip meals, especially if you've already taken your insulin, because your blood glucose may go too low.
  
  
• See your doctor before starting a physical activity program.
  
  
• Check your blood glucose before, during, and after exercising. Don't exercise when your blood glucose is high and you have ketones in your blood or urine.
  
  
• Don't exercise right before you go to sleep because it could cause low blood glucose during the night.

Keep a daily record of

• your blood glucose numbers
  
  
• the times of the day you took your insulin
  
  
• the amount and type of insulin you took
  
  
• whether you had ketones in your urine

Other tips

• Tell your doctor if you have low blood glucose often, especially at the same time of the day or night several times in a row.
  
  
• Tell your doctor if you've passed out from low blood glucose.
  
  
• Ask your doctor about glucagon. Glucagon is a medicine that raises blood glucose. If you pass out from low blood glucose, someone should call 911 and give you a glucagon shot.
  
  
• Take your insulin, even if you are sick and have been throwing up. Ask your doctor about how to adjust your insulin dose based on your blood glucose test results.

When you travel

• take a special insulated bag to carry your insulin to keep it from freezing or getting too hot
  
  
• bring extra supplies for taking insulin and testing your blood glucose in case of loss or breakage
  
  
• ask your doctor for a letter saying that you have diabetes and need to carry supplies for taking insulin and testing blood glucose

SOURCE: National Diabetes Clearinghouse; NIDDK; "Taking Care of Your Diabetes at Special Times."

Last Editorial Review: 6/19/2009

Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/diabetes_caring_for_your_diabetes_at_special_time/article.htm