Managing diabetes when you are not well
People living with diabetes, like everyone else, can get sick with everyday illnesses. It is important to be prepared and to know what to do if you get sick. This includes having a personalised sick day action plan, and a sick day kit ready to use at the earliest sign of illness.
If you live with type 1 diabetes you may want to take a look at this video that Carolien prepared on behalf of the NDSS. Or you could download this factsheet from the NDSS website to guide you.
If you live with type 2 diabetes you may want to take a look at this video that Carolien prepared on behalf of the NDSS. Or you could download this factsheet from the NDSS website to guide you.
When you are pregnant you will need to be extra careful when you are unwell. This article may help you.
Are you a health professional looking after a person with diabetes and looking for information on how to help your clients? If so, you may want to download this resource from the NDSS.
Management of Diabetes Complications
Diabetes-related complications are unfortunately common. They can be categorised into:
- Microvascular complications which involves damage to small blood
- Macrovascular complications which involves damage to larger blood vessels
- Mental Health issues
- Other complications which can include foot ulcers and amputations
Many complications relating to diabetes can be prevented through timely interventions. If they can not be prevented, then at least the effects of any complications on your health and well-being can be minimised by early detection and treatment.
It is important that you work with your health care team to get regular check-ups. These checks should be focussing on your individual needs and any other medical conditions you may have. This includes getting regular blood and urine tests, but also getting your blood pressure, eyes and teeth checked regularly. As most checks are recommended to have done on a yearly basis, these regular check for diabetes are more commonly referred to as the ‘Annual Cycle of Care’.
Travelling With Diabetes
When you live with diabetes, perhaps even more so than for anyone else, it is important to plan ahead when travelling.
You will need to consider how your general health is, as well as how well your diabetes is managed. You will also need to consider what to pack, what food may be available at your travel destination, what your activity levels may be whilst you are away and you will need to make sure that you have travel insurance in place.
This factsheet from the NDSS is a good place to start. The NDSS also created this booklet on travel for people with type 1 diabetes as well as a comprehensive little video that you can find at the bottom of this page.
If you are travelling overseas you will most likely fly and hence you will have to follow airline security regulations for your medications, insulin, and diabetes equipment such as injection pens, blood glucose monitors, insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring devices. Read more here about tips for packing your carry-on bags, going through airport security and in-flight care tips.
You will need to take extra care and precautions to ensure not only your own safety, but also that of others, when going on a road trip. Click on this link to find more information on driving and travel.
Carolien also wrote this article for health professionals so they can help their clients prepare for travel. This includes information on how to plan for any travel delays, your luggage getting lost and even Schoolies!
And don’t forget to visit the Smart Traveller website so you can stay up-to-date on the latest travel advice by the Australian Government and information on pretty much anything else travel related, such as getting married overseas, studying or retiring overseas, or attending cultural, religious or sporting events overseas. The Smart Traveller website provides all sorts of information, from information on Consular assistance to how to update your passport, how to vote overseas and which countries are best to avoid.
And of course, do not forget to have FUN and send us a postcard!
Diabetes and Pregnancy
Gestational Diabetes, or GDM for short, has been defined as “a carbohydrate intolerance of variable severity with the first onset or diagnosis during the current pregnancy” and is usually and traditionally diagnosed through an oral glucose tolerance test.
Women with GDM will be prescribed a diet with restricted carbohydrate intake. It is generally recommended to have more frequent, smaller meals with carbohydrate portions spread out across the day to help stabilise and maintain glucose levels. Women with gestational diabetes are usually asked to have a smaller breakfast, lunch, and dinner and to include some morning tea, afternoon tea and supper in between their main meals.
Women with gestational diabetes are also asked to do regular physical activity, to help burn off excess glucose. Guidelines may vary slightly from one area to another, but mostly women are asked to do 150 minutes per week (or 30 minutes daily) of moderate intensity physical activity. For most women this means going for a daily walk, in addition to their regular daily activities.
Good glycaemic (blood glucose) management is very important for the foetus (unborn baby) as high blood glucose levels can cause complications in the newborn baby. These complications can include jaundice (a yellowing of the skin due to a struggling liver, requiring phototherapy), hypoglycaemia (a low blood glucose level), shoulder dystocia (dislocation) and macrosomia (a big baby).
Women with gestational diabetes are asked to check their blood glucose levels regularly so that their progress can be reviewed.
In approximately one third of women with gestational diabetes, diet and exercise alone is not enough to maintain blood glucose levels in the target range and hence insulin treatment may be required. In Australia tablets are generally not used in pregnancy as most tablets would cross the placenta and they are often not strong enough to provide the required level of glucose management. Insulin is a much safer option as insulin will not cross the placenta and side-effects are minimal.