My dad has diabetes...?!
Question: My dad has diabetes!.!.!.!?
okay, my dad has diabetes and his blood sugar has been pretty high!. Today he hasnt even ate anything because he has the flu and doesnt have an appetite and still his blood sugar was 290!. Does anybody know why it would be that high even if he hasnt ate anything!?!?!?
thanks!.
by the way, he has type one diabetes!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
thanks!.
by the way, he has type one diabetes!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Food is not the only thing that can raise blood sugar!.
Even when a person doesn't eat the body can still MAKE sugar!. That's why insulin is needed all the time by humans!. Our pancreas is supposed to trickle in a little insulin all day long even if we don't eat to keep blood sugar normal!. It pumps out MORE insulin when we eat, but it never stops completely because it has to deal with the sugar our body releases between meals!.
Now during times of sickness (like the flu) or during stress, our bodies put out MORE sugar because the body thinks we need it to deal with the stress of being sick!. It is very important that your dad try to get SOME sugar into his system during the day when he can't eat!. Sips of juice or soda or popsicles or regular jello would be FINE!. Also take the normal amount of insulin so he can deal with the higher blood sugars!. Most people with diabetes are supposed to take a certain amount of insulin with their meals as well as a certain amount of insulin if their blood sugars are above normal!.
If your father is unsure, call his doctor and get advice!. It is important not to let his blood sugar get too high while he is sick or else it will make it harder for him to get better and it might land him in the hospital!. It never hurst and never costs to ask the doctor or the doctor's nurse advice over the phone!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Even when a person doesn't eat the body can still MAKE sugar!. That's why insulin is needed all the time by humans!. Our pancreas is supposed to trickle in a little insulin all day long even if we don't eat to keep blood sugar normal!. It pumps out MORE insulin when we eat, but it never stops completely because it has to deal with the sugar our body releases between meals!.
Now during times of sickness (like the flu) or during stress, our bodies put out MORE sugar because the body thinks we need it to deal with the stress of being sick!. It is very important that your dad try to get SOME sugar into his system during the day when he can't eat!. Sips of juice or soda or popsicles or regular jello would be FINE!. Also take the normal amount of insulin so he can deal with the higher blood sugars!. Most people with diabetes are supposed to take a certain amount of insulin with their meals as well as a certain amount of insulin if their blood sugars are above normal!.
If your father is unsure, call his doctor and get advice!. It is important not to let his blood sugar get too high while he is sick or else it will make it harder for him to get better and it might land him in the hospital!. It never hurst and never costs to ask the doctor or the doctor's nurse advice over the phone!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
It's perfectly normal for this to happen!.
As Dakota00 has explained, there are mechanisms involved inside your body that prepare you for 'fight or floght' !.!.!. a survival thing!.
You don't say how long your dad has been diabetic, but he should have been informed that during periods of illness, such as flu, there may be a need to increase his insulin dosage!. If he's not been told about this, or by how much he can safely increase his dosage, he should really speak with his doctor!.
There are ways that doctors estimate how much to increase insulin dosages by, but it would be inappropriate for anyone here to suggest by what amount !.!.!. especially as none of us know what insulin(s) he uses or what doses he takes, besides whether there are any other things that need to be taken into consideration!.
Does your dad have any way of testing for ketones!? He may have a different type of blood testing strip, or strips for testing his urine!. When blood sugar levels are above 250 mg/dL there's every reason to believe that improper fat metabolism is taking place!. (You can try smelling his breath!. If it smells of acetone (nail polish remover) it means that he's possibly going into ketoacidosis!. Without wishing to frighten you, this can be dangerous if not treated!. If you do smell it, my advice would be for you to telephone either your dad's doctor or call for an ambulance!.)
I wish you the best for yourself and your father!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
As Dakota00 has explained, there are mechanisms involved inside your body that prepare you for 'fight or floght' !.!.!. a survival thing!.
You don't say how long your dad has been diabetic, but he should have been informed that during periods of illness, such as flu, there may be a need to increase his insulin dosage!. If he's not been told about this, or by how much he can safely increase his dosage, he should really speak with his doctor!.
There are ways that doctors estimate how much to increase insulin dosages by, but it would be inappropriate for anyone here to suggest by what amount !.!.!. especially as none of us know what insulin(s) he uses or what doses he takes, besides whether there are any other things that need to be taken into consideration!.
Does your dad have any way of testing for ketones!? He may have a different type of blood testing strip, or strips for testing his urine!. When blood sugar levels are above 250 mg/dL there's every reason to believe that improper fat metabolism is taking place!. (You can try smelling his breath!. If it smells of acetone (nail polish remover) it means that he's possibly going into ketoacidosis!. Without wishing to frighten you, this can be dangerous if not treated!. If you do smell it, my advice would be for you to telephone either your dad's doctor or call for an ambulance!.)
I wish you the best for yourself and your father!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
have him check his ketones he may need to make adjusments to his insulin and could have ketoacidosis when you get sick it will affect his sugar but ketoacidosis has flu like symptoms and if left untreated too long will lead to kidney and liver failureWww@Answer-Health@Com
When one is sick, or the body is under high stress, glucagon is produced and the liver converts glycogen into glucose raising the blood sugar!. It's a fight or flight response!. (a survival thing)!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
You need to call your dad's doctor, his blood sugar is way too high!. If he took his insulin he has to eat even if he doesn't want too, he could go into insulin shock!. Please call his doctor!.Www@Answer-Health@Com