Flu Season Tips

updated 2/25/20

Flu season has arrived and the sad fact is that no matter how hard you try, sometimes you just can't avoid getting the flu. Dr. Adam Naddelman, MD, FAAP, President, Princeton Nassau Pediatrics, P.A. has a few tips on how to elude the flu, spot the virus in it's early stages, and what to do when you think that you've been bitten by the bug.

Preventative measures (from flu.gov)

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others.

Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Flu and other serious respiratory illnesses, like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), are spread by cough, sneezing, or unclean hands.

Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

Practice other good health habits.Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Early flu signs

• Fever, usually 102º - 104º

• Cough

• Body aches that can be severe

Once symptoms begin
People who are high risk (chronic illness like diabetes and asthma, elderly or kids under 2) should seek medical care quickly. If the flu is diagnosed within the first 48 hours, antiviral drugs can be prescribed in hopes of shortening and/or lessening the effects of the flu. A full list of who is considered to be high risk can be found at Flu.gov.

For those considered low risk, Dr. Naddelman believes the best treatment is supportive care, including plenty of fluids, antipyretics to reduce fever and body aches, and lots of rest. 

Considering emergency medical assistance? Listen to episode 307 of the Juicebox Podcast

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Dr. Adam Naddelman, MD, FAAP

Dr. Naddelman stresses the importance of being on the look out for secondary infections with the flu, particularly pneumonia. Signs of influenza leading to a secondary bacterial infection like pneumonia include a high spiking fever several days into the illness, increasing cough and lethargy, and decreased appetite and oral intake. These signs require immediate medical attention.  

Once you've kicked the flu waiting twenty-four hours to reintroduce yourself to the public after your symptoms and fever have resolved is considered best practice.

Dr. Naddelman practices pediatrics, but his advice is transferrable to patients of all ages.

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I've gathered some links from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) that you may find helpful if your child with type 1 diabetes falls prey to the flu.

Ketone/Sick Day Rules - Insulin Pump - pdf

Ketone/Sick Day Rules - NPH - pdf

Sick Day Log Sheet - pdf 

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This is a very good time for me to remind you that I am not a doctor and that nothing I write on Arden's Day or anywhere else should be taken as medical advice. My disclaimer says it all but you should really contact your own physician whenever you have questions about your or a loved ones health. Especially when the flu is involved. 

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Corona Shelter In Place: Update One

Before I began podcasting I did a fair amount of blogging, please bear with me while I remember how to write.

It’s March 19, 2020 and my family has been voluntarily sheltering in place for six days. Overall the time has been pleasant but I want to share a few things that I’ve noticed as the days pass.

Arden seems to like distance learning better than going to school, this was not surprising as she has been able to adjust her busy hours to meet her natural sleep pattern.

Kelly is working more hours which is allowing her to conquer tasks that would normally take more time. Saving commuting time is helping tremendously. I do worry that she isn’t taking enough breaks.

Cole has been sent home from college and the NCAA has cancelled the spring sports season. He is figuring out how to channel the massive amount of energy that he usually directs into playing baseball. Yesterday he got outside for the first time and the activity was good for him.

The house has never looked better, cleaning has become a pastime for a few of us. Arden spent a day cleaning the kid’s bathroom and it is sparkling.

Everything still feels pretty normal with the exception of how often we visit stores but the specter of what may still be coming is difficult to ignore. I find myself worrying most about food, security and diabetes supplies.

I’m going to spend this time working on the Juicebox Podcast by recording, editing and prepping future episodes. I’d like to add some home exercise to my day - I need to do that.

I’m hoping that you will use your time for something that you haven’t previously had the bandwidth for. Refocus on diabetes management, try that planking challenge - whatever. Just as long as you can look back on these days and feel like they weren’t wasted. I’ve been re-listenning to my Pro Tip series with Jenny Smith to brush up on my T1D management skills. I’ve picked a few books to read and I think that I may have an idea for bolstering the community around this blog and podcast.

Last two things: Those of you who aren’t able to stay home, please be safe and for anyone who feels uncertain about the coronavirus and what you should and shouldn’t be doing, I just recorded a very easy to follow conversation with Adam Naddelman, M.D. on the subject. Adam will be back on the show as events unfold.

Talk soon.

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Precision Xtra Blood Ketone Meter

It's that time of year... here come the sick days.

There are some things that you don't expect as you prepare yourself for parenthood. One of the things that I didn't imagine? Being peed on more times then I can count. I guess that I should have been ready for a little pee at the changing table or perhaps in the doctor's office. That said, I never imagined how many times I'd be hit while collecting a urine sample and I'm talking about pre-diabetes. There was a time when he was about three that I believed my son was trying to pee on my hand. And Arden, oh Arden is the biggest offender as she quite likes to break out into uproarious laughter as I'm bent over collecting a sample during her yearly well visit.

When I realized that checking ketones was a part of diabetes management my first thought was, "great, more to do and learn" but my second thought was, "well at least I don't mind getting peed on anymore".

Did you know that pee and ketone management don't have to go hand in pee covered hand.

Recently on FaceBook I had a conversation with a mother of a newly diagnosed child who was experiencing their first illness with type I diabetes. She was understandably concerned and wanting to make the next few days as stable and simple as she could. Without a moment of hesitation, I recommended that she get a Blood Ketone Meter and told her that we use the Precision Xtra from Abbott.

View fullsize

This meter is fast and accurate when checking ketones, it does require a largeish drop of blood but nothing that a little extra squeezing can't provide. It's a real lifesaver during sick days and any other times that you require a ketone check. I highly recommend asking your endocrinologist to write you a script so you can try it. We actually have two, one at school and one at home. I can't specifically speak to the pricing as our insurance covered Arden's meter and test strips, but I have seen the meter online for less then twenty dollars... a small price to pay to avoid getting peed on IMO. HUGE thank you to Erin who just told me in the comments that the meter is available for FREE from Abbott when you sign up for their FreeStyle Promise Program. Who says blog comments are dead?

When you love someone who has type 1 diabetes the flu and cold season is particularly stressful!

I know that during the winter months I'm always holding my breath a little extra, hoping that Arden doesn't get a cold or worse, the flu. There is much that you can do to prevent the spread of germs but getting sick is sometimes inevitable and being prepared makes the process go much smoother. If our Precision Xtra sits in a drawer 360 days a year – it is still well worth having for the other five.

May you and your children be healthy and germ free this season!

This post was updated with new links and better writing on 1/22/15.

Remember that I am not a doctor. I am just passing on good information from my perspective. Always speak with your health care professional before making changes to a care plan. This is not a paid review. Please note that I have never used it as a blood glucose meter and can't speak to it's reliability on that front.

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