REACHINGYOURGOAL:
Avoidinghospitalstaysand
emergencyroomvisits
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Overview
Staying out of the hospital
or ER has many beneÿ ts:
• It may help avoid
unwanted breaks in
your daily routine.
• It may help keep
insurance costs down.
• You may save money by
avoiding co-payments.
• You may cut down on
unpaid days o—from
work.
OBJECTIVE: Provide steps to avoid
emergency room (ER) visits and trips to the
hospital for diabetes related conditions.
Below are the causes for hospital stays and ER visits:
•
•
•
•
Problems from high blood sugar
Low blood sugar
Poorly controlled diabetes
Long-term problems of diabetes that requires a lot of treatment
Getting started:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Try to keep your blood sugar in range.
Check your blood sugar often.
Report highs and lows to your doctor.
Talk with your health care team regularly.
Keep scheduled follow-up visits with your health care team.
Call your doctor or diabetes educator about any problems that
occur between visits.
• When you go to the hospital or ER, let your doctor know.
• Work with your team to develop a plan you can manage.
• Every patient should work with a diabetes educator and dietitian.
This will help you to learn about your medicine, diet, exercise and
lifestyle changes.
Preventing problems from high blood sugar:
• If you have type 1 diabetes, know how to check for Diabetic
Ketoacidosis (DKA).
• If you are sick, follow sick day guidelines.
• For people with type 2 diabetes, learn about Hyperosmolar
Hyperglycemic Non-Ketotic Syndrome (HHNKS).
Repeated episodes of DKA indicate a serious problem. This problem
must be corrected. Otherwise, you are at risk for long term
problems.
70085 Rev. 2/6/14
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QUIz
Preventing low blood sugar:
• Ask you doctor what causes low blood sugar.
• You also need to know how to avoid having low
blood sugar.
• Changes may need to be made to your medicine,
meal and exercise plan.
• You also need to know how alcohol affects your
blood sugar.
• If you have type 1 diabetes, learn how exercise affects
blood sugar.
• Discuss with your doctor how to adjust insulin and
food for exercise.
• Check your blood sugar often
• Learn how to treat low blood sugar.
• If you have type 1 diabetes, have glucagon on hand.
• Teach family, friends and co-workers how and when
to give glucagon.
How can your doctor help you?
These suggestions may help you control your diabetes.
In doing so, you may avoid hospital visits. However, if
you are very sick you should not wait to seek care.
QUESTIONS
1. All of the following are ways
that will help you stay out of
the hospital except:
a) Talk to your health care team
regularly
b) If you are sick, stop taking
your insulin or pills
c) Try to keep your blood sugar
levels in range
d) Work with your health care
team to develop a plan that will
work for you
2. True or False: If you have type 1
diabetes, you should learn how
to prevent DKA.
3. To prevent low blood sugar,
you may need to adjust
medicine, meals and decrease
your _____ intake.
ANSWERS
1. b
2. True
3. alcohol