An insulin pump makes it easier to get the right amount of insulin and manage glucose. The device pumps insulin continuously day and night. It can also deliver insulin more rapidly (bolus) before meals.
Knowing the signs of DKA and making a sick day plan—before you get sick—can reduce your risk of this life-threatening condition. DKA usually develops slowly. You’ll notice you’ll feel thirsty and your mouth is dry, and you’re urinating more than usual. Your glucose levels and ketones in the urine will be high.
As the condition worsens, symptoms include: fatigue, dry and flushed skin, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, a fruity odor on the breath, and confusion. DKA can cause you to lose consciousness and lead to coma and even death, so it must be treated as a medical emergency.
COVID-19 and DKA have some of the same emergency warning signs such as difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, and confusion or inability to arouse. Other emergency COVID-19 symptoms include persistent pain or pressure in the chest and bluish lips or face.
Don’t hesitate to call your doctor when: you’ve been sick or had a fever for a couple of days without getting better, you’ve been vomiting or had diarrhea for longer than six hours, your urine contains high ketones, especially high ketones in combination with glucose higher than 240 mg/dl or vomiting and if you have any symptoms of DKA or COVID-19 outlined above.
Making a sick day plan involves figuring out how often and when you should check your blood glucose and urine ketones, when you should call your healthcare provider, foods to eat during this time, and how to take your insulin and other medicines. You will also include important phone numbers so you can reach your health care providers quickly if illness strikes.
The very nature of a plan is that you do it before you need it. So you want to work with your doctor and other members of your diabetes team ahead of time, so they can individualize a plan for you. Make an appointment to see your healthcare providers before you get sick.