What’s in your kit
Eight tools. The first three are the rules you must know cold — they decide when something is an emergency. The rest keep the daily partnership steady and tell you where your role begins and ends.
1 · The Low-Sugar Rule
Know this coldLow blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can happen in patients on insulin or certain pills (sulfonylureas). Catching it early stops it. Missing it means falls, seizures, or unconsciousness.
T2D LOW-BLOOD-SUGAR RULE
Patient card2 · The DKA Rule
Know this coldDiabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is rare in type 2 but real — especially during illness, infection, or missed insulin. It is life-threatening. Knowing the signs saves lives.
T2D DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS RULE
Patient card3 · Other Red Flags — Emergencies
Know this coldBeyond the two red rules above, these situations also mean immediate help. When in doubt, the home care plan handles ordinary days — these are not ordinary.
🧠 Stroke signs
Diabetes is a major stroke risk factor. Sudden face droop, arm weakness, slurred speech, severe headache — BE-FAST.
Call 911 now❤️ Chest pain
Diabetes raises heart-attack risk and can mask symptoms. New chest pressure or pain — especially with sweating or nausea — is a 911 call.
Call 911 now👣 Foot wound or infection
A red, swollen, hot, or draining foot wound — especially with fever — can become a limb-threatening infection in 24-48 hours. Diabetic neuropathy means you may not feel pain.
ED today👀 Sudden vision change
Sudden blurred vision, dark spots, or "curtain" loss of vision can be retinal bleeding or hemorrhage. Diabetes is the top cause of new vision loss in adults.
ED today4 · The Contact Ladder
Fill in & printWhen something is wrong, you should not be deciding who to call in the moment — only which rung you are on. Fill in the names and numbers now, while things are calm.
You's diabetes action plan + sick-day rules
Start here for normal day-to-day blood sugar management. The sick-day rules cover illness, missed meals, travel. Most situations are answered in the plan.
Action plan kept: ________________________Endocrinology or diabetes educator
For unexplained sugar swings, insulin questions, CGM problems, new symptoms. Many practices have a 24-hour diabetes line. CDEs (certified diabetes educators) are a treasure — underused.
Specialty team: ________________________Primary care provider
For routine visits, A1c, kidney + eye exams, vaccines. Many primary care practices manage uncomplicated diabetes well.
Primary care: ________________________911 / Emergency Department
For severe low sugar with confusion, suspected DKA, chest pain, stroke signs, foot infection with fever, sudden vision change.
Preferred ED: ________________________5 · Daily Sugar Log
Tap to logEnter the most important reading for the day (morning fasting OR the highest reading after a meal). For full tracking, your CGM app or sugar meter is the source of truth — this is the highlight reel.
Most patients target fasting 80-130 and post-meal under 180. Personal targets vary — confirm with the team. A1c is the long-term measure; daily readings show the why behind it.
6 · Diabetes Medication Support
Daily routineModern type 2 diabetes care has been transformed by newer medicines (GLP-1 agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors). Most patients are on 2-3 medicines, sometimes with insulin. Each one earns its place.
GLP-1 nausea
GLP-1 agonists often cause nausea for the first 4-6 weeks. Eat smaller portions, slower, avoid fatty foods. Most patients adjust — if not, call the team.
SGLT2 hydration
SGLT2 inhibitors make the kidneys release more sugar in urine. Encourage extra water. Watch for urinary or genital yeast infections — common, treatable.
Insulin storage
Unopened insulin pens go in the fridge. The one in use can stay at room temperature for ~28 days. Never inject cold — warm in the hand first.
Sick-day rules
During illness, sugar can swing in either direction. Test more often. NEVER skip insulin without team guidance. Push sugar-free fluids.
7 · The ER Go-Bag
Pack once, check monthlyA crisis is not the time to gather paperwork. Pack a go-bag now and keep it by the door. Tap each item as you add it — your checklist saves on this device.
8 · Speak Up / Trust the Team Guide
You boundaryThe hardest skill in patienting is knowing when to act and when to hold back. A great patient is a reliable backup and a fierce advocate — without taking your own care away from them.
💬 Speak up when…
- A red-flag rule is met and a clinician is dismissing it — restate the rule and the home plan calmly and clearly.
- You are in the ED and your home plan is being ignored — ask for it to be looked at, and ask for a senior clinician if needed.
- You are about to be given a medicine or test that wasn’t in the plan — ask why, and ask about alternatives.
- Your symptoms are escalating between visits — call before it becomes an ER trip.
- You feel unheard or rushed — it’s OK to say "I need a minute to ask one more question."
🤝 Trust the team when…
- They have proposed a guideline-based treatment that fits your plan.
- You disagree from fear rather than from new information — pause, ask one question, listen.
- You are on a stable run that’s working — small adjustments often beat big changes.
- Your care partner’s instinct and the team’s recommendation agree — that’s a strong signal.
- You’ve done your part of the homework — logs, questions, honest history — and now it’s the team’s turn.