The goal of a diabetic diet when you're sick is the same as when you're healthy: Control blood sugar, maintain a healthy weight and avoid diabetic complications. But illness elevates blood sugar, so it's important to know what to eat and drink when you're under the weather.
Planning Ahead for Sickness
Make a sick-day plan ahead of time that includes how often to test your blood sugar, what medications you should take and what you can eat and drink. It should also contain contact and emergency numbers for your physician and dietitian.
Managing Blood Sugar
Check your blood sugar when ill every four hours if you are a Type 1 diabetic, two to four times a day if you are Type 2. If your blood sugar remains higher than 240 for more than 24 hours, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends calling a doctor. Type 1 diabetics may also need to test their blood or urine for ketones if blood sugar remains high.
Suggested Foods
Stick to a normal diet if at all possible, the American Diabetes Association advises. If you can't tolerate your normal foods, try bland items such as crackers, soup, gelatin and applesauce. Cream soups, ice cream, sherbet, yogurt, pudding and broth will also help hydrate and provide necessary calories.
Suggested Beverages
Drink at least 8 ounces of water every hour you're awake, the NIH recommends. If you're unable to eat normally, drink sugary beverages such as soda and juice to get needed calories and keep your blood sugar from falling too low.
Diabetic Medication
Continue to take your regular diabetic medications even when you're sick. Call a doctor if diarrhea or vomiting lasts for more than six hours, or a fever lasts longer than two days.
