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Diabetes first

Advice for when a child or young person with diabetes develops a common childhood illness.

There may be times when your child will suffer from common childhood illnesses such as cold/flu, diarrhoea and vomiting and sore throats.

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While all of these can be safely treated by a GP, we wanted to take this opportunity to remind you to consider the impact any of these illnesses may have on a child with diabetes.

If your child complains of a headache, stomach ache or feeling sick please think ‘diabetes first’.

Following this simple advice can keep your child safe and reduce the risk of an emergency admission to hospital:

  • Check blood glucose (BG) frequently, every two hours
  • Encourage sugar-free fluids regularly (water is ideal)
  • If BG above 14mmol/l check for ketones (blood ketones are easier to do and more accurate)
  • If your child’s blood glucose meter is suggesting a correction dose please ensure this is given and recheck BG and ketones two hours later. If you are concerned please ring your diabetes nurse or the children’s wards for advice
  • If ketones are above 1.5 (blood) or dark purple (urine) you must ring your diabetes nurse or the children’s wards for advice

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