Illness Management Summary

Managing T1D During Illness: A Concise Summary

Managing diabetes can be challenging when your child is sick. You need a clear and concise guide to manage BG, treat symptoms, and keep your child safe. The following chart summarizes the best response to different blood sugars, and how that response should change when your child has vomiting/diarrhea (or not), and has different levels of ketones (or not).

This chart summarizes the more detailed information outlined in this Managing Diabetes During Illness section.

BG
< 4.0
mmol/L
BG
> 14.0
mmol/L
Decrease insulin

Push sugar fluids

Call diabetes nurse/doctor
With vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite With vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite Check Urine or Blood for Ketones
Decrease insulin

Push sugar-containing fluids

Call diabetes nurse/doctor if:

  • Dehydrated
  • Vomiting > 2 times in 4 hours
  • Frequent diarrhea
Usual insulin

Push sugar-containing fluids if on N/NPH

Call diabetes nurse/doctor if:

  • Dehydrated
  • Vomiting > 2 times in 4 hours
  • Frequent diarrhea
Urine Ketones negative Blood Ketones < 0.6 Urine Ketones positive Blood Ketones 0.6‑3.0 Blood Ketones > 3.0
With or without vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite: With or without vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite: With or without vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite:
Eating normally, no vomiting, no diarrhea Eating normally, no vomiting, no diarrhea Usual insulin

Push sugar‑free fluids

Call diabetes nurse/doctor if:

  • Dehydrated
  • Vomiting > 2 times in 4 hours
  • Frequent diarrhea
Give extra insulin

Push sugar-free fluids

Call diabetes nurse/doctor if:

  • Dehydrated
  • Vomiting >
    2 times in 4 hours
  • Frequent diarrhea
  • Ketones do not clear after 2 extra doses of insulin
Give extra insulin
Usual insulin
Push sugar‑free fluids
Usual insulin
Push sugar‑free fluids
Push sugar‑free fluids
Contact medical help! Your child may have diabetic ketoacidosis

References

The above information was adapted with permission from The Alberta Children’s Hospital Diabetes Clinic information handouts.

The above information was reviewed for content accuracy by clinical staff of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Diabetes Clinic.