Katherine’s Lessons in Bronchitis, Urgent Care, and Diabetes

Diabetes does not take days off. On days when I have a big exam or am on vacation, I can never forget about my blood sugar. Now, I take great care of how my various health issues play a role in my daily life, especially on days when I may not feel my best. Sick day preparedness is something that I am familiar with as someone with diabetes, asthma, food allergies, and other inflammatory issues. After celebrating my first anniversary of being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, I’m currently recovering from my first case of bronchitis as a diabetic. This diagnosis posed me with new challenges in adjusting to my various medicines reacting with one another and affecting my blood sugar. Before being diagnosed, I was often on steroids as a young child, but I had no idea the effect these medications had on blood sugar. I learned a few lessons through this experience.

1. Be reactive and respond quickly to adversity.
   • Adjusting my basal (long-acting) insulin rates on my insulin pump helped keep my levels stable throughout the day. The steroid medication I was on constantly spiked my blood sugar whether or not I was eating. Although my endocrinologist supports the idea of adjusting my basal rate on my own, I still reached out to them for support in this specific situation regarding the medications I was put on.
   • I also had a stressful experience with my pharmacy and insurance company that required me to call and navigate the communication between various locations. There was miscommunication on the amount of medication I picked up from one pharmacy location due to incorrectly logged pickup. So the next time I showed up to pick up the medication, they said I was not eligible, even though I was. Staying calm, patient, and being reactive allowed me to solve the issue promptly. Keeping documentation and evidence of when you collected prescriptions and how many you were given is key for when you may run into an issue.
2. Establishing strong, positive relationships with your healthcare providers is essential when faced with a crisis or challenging situation that requires immediate support. When I had bronchitis, I reached out to my endocrinology office to learn more about how my medication would affect my blood sugar, and thankfully they promptly responded to my questions and concerns. These were things my endocrinologist knew at a more detailed level than my urgent care doctor, as he has more knowledge of my health history and personal experience. I recommend scheduling regular visits with your healthcare providers to establish and solidify those connections for when you need support.

3. Finally, as a college student learning to navigate the healthcare system, I recommend keeping thorough documentation of your visits and all your information. I have a folder in my dorm that contains my insurance information, vaccine card, and all other materials I may need. This was extremely helpful for my visit to urgent care and new providers as a first-time patient, so I can be seen as soon as possible, and so they can address the issue at hand in an appropriate manner.
4. Going to urgent care can be daunting. When I went to urgent care as a first time patient of that practice, at first I felt overwhelmed about insurance coverage, documentation, and who I would be seeing. I normally gravitate to my family care doctor or endocrinologist, but I decided to go to urgent care because I needed immediate care over the weekend, and it was the only thing open. While the emergency room is an option, I prefer to avoid it unless I am in a life-threatening condition as it can be very time consuming and expensive! Going to urgent care by myself for the first time was a learning experience, but I found the most helpful thing was to be prepared not only with all my cards and documentation, but also ready to list my symptoms, the timeline of my illness, and awareness of my feelings mentally and physically. Awareness is key to addressing the issue at hand and being able to voice your needs.

Be patient with yourself on sick days when your diabetes management may look different than a regular day. Prioritizing your health is the most important thing you can do for yourself. Everyone’s relationship with their health looks different. Be kind to yourself with your activity level, how you look and feel, and how out of range your blood sugar may be while you’re sick. It is important to stay focused on your own journey to prevent comparing yourself to others in a negative way. You got this!