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Suffering an illness can affect a diabetic patient’s glucose (blood sugar) levels and cause serious conditions that can lead to a coma or possibly death. To prevent complications, patients should develop a sick-day management plan in advance with their diabetes care team. When patients become ill, they will then know how to react and have supplies on hand.

A sick-day management plan may include:

• How often to perform glucose monitoring
  
  
• How often to perform a ketone test
  
  
• What medications or changes in medication may be needed
  
  
• What foods and fluids to consume
  
  
• When to call the physician
  
  
• What to do in case of emergencies such as severe dehydration, hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia