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Tips for Diabetics Concerning H1N1

As a diabetic, you try to stay well. You watch your diet, you exercise, and you try your best to stay well, but sometimes you just can’t help getting sick. Right now the H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu, is going around the United States. The people most at risk from the H1N1 virus are children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes mellitus and other diseases. The following tips may help you prevent the H1N1 flu. These tips may help you care for yourself if you should get sick with the virus.

1. Vaccine If you are at risk of getting sick from the H1N1 virus, the regular seasonal flu virus will not protect you from the swine flu. Ask your doctor if you should have the vaccine, since you have diabetes. Right now, there is a shortage of H1N1 flu vaccine in the United States, so the people most at risk are the ones to get this vaccine first.

2. Medical care If you become sick, and you think it might be the H1N1 virus, be sure to tell your doctor. If your immune system is healthy, you are not likely to suffer more than you would with the seasonal flu. Depending on the severity of your flu symptoms and your blood glucose levels, your doctor may suggest you stay home to get well, or come into the doctor’s office. Most doctors would rather their clients, sick with the swine flu, be treated at home, because the H1N1 virus is spread through droplets when you cough or sneeze. However, you should not hesitate notifying your doctor if you are running fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, if you have very high blood glucose levels, or you are having trouble breathing.

3. Blood glucose levels Because you are sick, you may need to check your blood sugar level more frequently. Your doctor may ask for you to test your blood glucose with a glucometer every couple of hours. Keep a record of your glucose meter readings and report them to your health care practitioner if the readings are significantly elevated.

4. Ketoacidosis When diabetics are sick with flu viruses, they are at risk for their blood sugar levels to become very high. If the reading on your glucometer is 240 or higher you need to check your urine for ketones. If you are spilling ketones in your urine, your body’s cells are not getting nourishment, and your own storage of fat and muscle proteins are being broken down to feed your body’s cells. Be sure to notify your doctor of a blood glucose reading of 240 or higher. Be sure to also notify your doctor if you are in ketoacidosis.

5. Scheduled medications Even though you are sick, be sure to take your scheduled medications, which includes insulin. Skipping your medicines could make your condition worse, by causing your blood glucose levels to rise above normal. If you do take insulin, try to eat and drink plenty, even if you don’t feel like it. To avoid getting dehydrated, try to drink at least 4 ounces of liquid every hour.

It is important that you contain the virus as much as possible. When you cough or sneeze, use a tissue to catch it and then dispose of the tissue. If you don’t have access to a tissue at the time of your coughing or sneezing, be sure to cough into the inside of our elbow to keep from spreading the germs to someone else.

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