I was uneducated about getting the flu with Type 1 Diabetes!

[vbutcher]

I have been type 1 for about a year and was never educated on what to do if I got the flu. I got a bad case on Monday and decided not to take my insulin because I wasn't eating.... things went from bad to worse... I ended up in the ER and spent 3 days in the hospital. My Blood/sugar was 676, my heart rate was 180 and my potassium was dangerously low... I was put in critical state and and was severly dehydrated. Anyhow, I learned that I need to get educated and never let this happen again.... very scary ordeal.....

[jenb]

Wow - very frightening! I hope you're recovered and feeling up to par now.

I can recommend two books that address the many vexing issues faced by people with this challenging condition. "Think Like a Pancreas" by Gary Scheiner and "Using Insulin" by John Walsh. You may already have them, and if so, re-read them now with the full year experience under your belt. They'll still provide insights. They each address the need for a "sick day" regimen. My copies of both books are absolutely dog-eared!

Let us know how you're doing...

Jen

[vbutcher]

I will definitely get those books.... hopefully they will help. That was not a fun experience. Thanks for your advice.

[BlueSky]

They should have told you that we need basal insulin, even if we don't eat. And especially when we are sick. Because of increased insulin resistance, the usual procedure is to increase insulin dosages when ill.

[lorilei]

They should have told you that we need basal insulin, even if we don't eat. And especially when we are sick. Because of increased insulin resistance, the usual procedure is to increase insulin dosages when ill.

Hmm i had never heard the reason why...

[genie86333]

Wow, glad you're well enough to re-join us here! Scary situation.

[TommyC1]

They should have told you that we need basal insulin, even if we don't eat. And especially when we are sick. Because of increased insulin resistance, the usual procedure is to increase insulin dosages when ill.

I don't know about increased insulin resistance but I believe that your liver responds to the stress of illness by kicking out a ton of glucose.
Could be both?
At any rate it's not unusual to need more insulin even though you are not eating.

Tommy

[A_Darling]

I have been type 1 for about a year and was never educated on what to do if I got the flu. I got a bad case on Monday and decided not to take my insulin because I wasn't eating.... things went from bad to worse... I ended up in the ER and spent 3 days in the hospital. My Blood/sugar was 676, my heart rate was 180 and my potassium was dangerously low... I was put in critical state and and was severly dehydrated. Anyhow, I learned that I need to get educated and never let this happen again.... very scary ordeal.....

your sig says you've been type 1 since 2005, and your post says you've been type 1 for about a year. ?? am I missing something?

[vbutcher]

I was diagnosed with diabetes 3 years ago... just took meds and was classified type 2... just one year ago, I became type 1... no meds and all insulin....I guess it's rare to get it this way... lucky me :(

[A_Darling]

Yeah, kinda strange I guess, but that's not the first time I've heard that story either.

Like everyone else is saying, having the flu really, really screws with your numbers. I feel high when normal, don't feel high when high, and end up testing a lot. This year's flu had me doubling my basal and bolus amounts, and then there's usually a settling period after I'm better where insulin amounts are fairly low.

[leopardladie]

Ohh this has happened to my son a couple years ago.He couldnt eat so he didnt get any insulin and same as you ended up the hospital for 3 days. Noone told use you always need insulin no matter if you eat or not. So what we do now is give him his lantus still and a low dose of humolog and have him take sips of ginger ale or 7-up to keep it from dropping. He also takes phenagren to control throwing up. Its a horible thing to deal cu noone wants to eat or drink with a flu but its that or ER.

[Tattoo azz]

GET THE FLU JAB EVERY YEAR!!! It may not stop you from getting the flu 100% of the time but its worth it. You CANNOT get the flu directly from the vaccine as it is an innert form of it. And the flu bug changes every year so the jab is always 1year behind, but hey some protection is better than none right?

[Marcia K in Fl]

Is this info just for T1?

What do I need to know as a T2?:confused: