Diabetes Doesn't Take A Sick Day & The Stomach Virus Doesn't Care That You Have Diabetes, Or Live Alone For That Matter.

My nightstand's current look du jour~

Today's post is all about Diabetes & The Stomach Flu and I highly suggest you avoid that combo because it's pretty damn draining.But if you can't.....

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Today's sick day started last night at bedtime, like I said, I think it's the stomach bug/virus that's being going around.

So as long as I'm being honest last night resembled a particularly gross scene out of The Exorcist, immediately followed by testing my blood sugars (103) and me trying my best to clean up the vomit off the floor, the walls and off my person. Somehow I managed to clean up and throw all the towels I used to mop my bathroom floor with in the laundry and start a wash at 11pm at night.

Then I jumped (more like hobbled) in the shower and cleaned myself off. On the way back to bed I grabbed a bucket and the Large bottle of Apple & Eve from the fridge, tested (109) and went to bed.

This morning I woke up, tested (200) and the sight and smell of food made me sick. But after a correction bolus my blood sugar numbers climbed to the 170's (except for a nasty 50 at early this afternoon) and so far, no ketones.

Currently, I look pretty terrible and my nightstand is covered with various hydrating substances, a meter/strips, glucose tabs, lip balm, and a thermometer.

I finally started eating at around noon and food is staying where it should. Throat is terribly scratchy and I feel very tired - Which makes sense because I can't stomach coffee at the moment, and the only caffeinated beverage I can deal with is vanilla black tea from Trader Joe's. I just had my first cup an hour ago.

Why am I sharing all this with you?? Because while diabetes and a stomach virus is a sucky combination, It's doable, even if you live alone.

And I know that being alone with a stomach virus or flu is a very real fear for many people living alone with diabetes. I know this because:

1. People have told me that they fear having diabetes and living alone

2. Having diabetes, living alone and then getting the flu or stomach virus

3. I live alone and I have diabetes so I've experienced that fear.

My thoughts on dealing with the bug: Keeping an open line of communication with my Dr's office when I feel like you just got the shit kicked out of me from a virus, bug or flu. I let a friend know that I'm sick and ask her/ him to check in with me from time to time. And I don't feel funny asking my friend to check in, because that's what friends do - it's a bloody phone call for God sakes, I'm not asking them to run a freaking marathon or help me move!

And I test my blood sugars, A LOT. It's important to see what direction my numbers are headed, same goes for ketones. And I hydrate as much as possible, even if I don't feel thirsty.

And if I see my ketones or blood sugars staying up instead of down, I call my Dr. again.

And if he want's to see me, I go see my Dr., but I try and call someone for a ride.

Nobody, diabetes or not wants to get sick while they're driving. And if my Dr. wants me to get to an emergency room, then I go there. Luckily, that's not the case for this bug.

Diabetes doesn't take a sick day and the stomach virus doesn't care that you have diabetes, or live alone for that matter. So do what you must to feel better and get better.

Now, I'm going to test my blood sugar again and then go sleep some more - because I still feel crappy and my ears are starting to ithch . But with any luck, tomorrow will be a work day and this 24 hour virus will be gone!