How should diabetes management change when dealing with a common cold or the flu?

Being sick puts your body under stress, which almost always drives blood sugar levels up, even if you have a loss of appetite and aren't eating much. During sick days, it is crucial to test your blood sugar much more frequently (every 2 to 4 hours). You must stay aggressively hydrated, ideally with sugar-free fluids, to help flush excess glucose out through urine. Never stop taking your baseline insulin or medication without consulting a doctor, even if you are vomiting, as your body may actually require more insulin during an illness to combat insulin resistance caused by the infection.