There is a lot more to diabetes and throwing up than people realize. Since diabetes is a serious condition, the medications that a diabetic takes are quite serious. When throwing up, you lose the balance of medication that you take as well as fluids, electrolytes, and important nutrients that you need in order to recover from your sickness. So, when you have when vomiting in diabetes you should call your doctor for special instructions. You should also keep a good watch over your blood sugar levels and call your doctor if you have high blood sugar, vomiting, or have a temperature of over 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C).
According to WebMd.com, when you are experiencing diabetes and throwing up, you should eat or drink 45 to 50 grams of carbohydrates every three or four hours in order to main your nutritional needs and to prevent hypoglycemia. If you are having trouble keeping foods down try consuming:
- 1 cup of clear soup or broth
- 1.2 cup of regular gelatin
- ½ cup regular soft drink
- ½ a Popsicle
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/3 cup apple juice
- ½ cup of Gatorade or other soft drink
- Water
Ketoacidosis
The combination of diabetes and throwing up could be a sign of keoacidosis, particularly in those that have type 1 diabetes. Ketoacidosis is a very dangerous condition caused by the lack of insulin, which is the hormone the body uses to breakdown glucose (sugar) in the blood to use for energy. When glucose is not available, fat is broken down instead. When fats are broken down, acids called ketones build up the blood. At high levels, these ketones are poisonous. If this condition is not treated promptly, then diabetic coma or death could result. Aside from diabetes and throwing up, symptoms of this condition may include:
- Rapid breathing
- Dry skin or mouth
- Flushed face
- Fruity smelling breath
- Stomach pain
Ketoacidosis can occur in type 2 diabetics as well, but this is rare. In either case, however, ketoacidosis can occur as the result of an infection or serious illness. In type 1 diabetics the most likely cause is missing doses of medicine or skipping meals. Throwing up could also affect the dosage of medication and the amount of foods consume as well of course. So, it is generally recommended that when a diabetic is ill and throwing up, that a ketone test kit be purchased (over-the-counter) in order to ensure the ketone levels in the urine are not too high.
