Preparing for a Hospital Stay
Because your diabetes doesn’t take a break, even in the hospital.
No one plans or wants to end up in the hospital, but as we age with Type 1 diabetes (T1D), it’s smart to be ready, just in case. Whether it’s a planned procedure or a sudden trip to the ER, hospital stays can bring unexpected challenges for people with T1D.
Unfortunately, many hospitals still don’t fully understand how to manage T1D, especially for older adults. That means you may need to advocate for yourself (or have someone else do so) to ensure you receive the care you need and deserve.
This section will help you:
- Know what to pack in a “go bag” for a hospital stay
- Understand your rights to manage your own diabetes care
- Use easy-to-share forms and checklists for caregivers and staff
Whether it’s keeping your insulin pump on, ensuring your CGM alarms are audible, or explaining how to treat a low, this guide helps you stay in control—even in unfamiliar settings.
Being prepared means less stress, safer care, and a smoother recovery.
Let’s make sure your T1D doesn’t get sidelined when your health needs the spotlight.
Hospital Checklist
A list of what to bring to the hospital in case of a stay.
Outpatient Procedure Management
A UC Irvine-created printable page on how to monitor your blood glucose after outpatient procedures.
Quick Cheat Sheet: While in Hospital
A cheat sheet in Microsoft Excel format on how to handle being in the hospital.
Quick Cheat Sheets: Hospital Packing Checklist
A cheat sheet in Microsoft Excel format on what to pack for a hospital trip.
Steroids and Blood Sugar Management
A guide on how to manage blood sugar while taking steroids.
Personal Info Hospital Card
An informative card in PDF format to prepare for medical personnel.
A Type 1 Warrior’s Guide to Diabetes in the Hospital
An article from TCOYD (Taking Control of Your Diabetes) on how to get the best care in the hospital as a T1D.
Recent Stories
The Wit and Wisdom of Fran Carpentier: 57 Years with Type 1 Diabetes
“I think that my first husband felt that I made life hard for us. I couldn’t be as spontaneous as he probably wanted me to be. You know this was pre-insulin pumps and CGMs. We were young, he wanted to go out and do things and I felt I had to do things a certain way to keep my sugar really well-controlled. I think I’m the most fun person in the room, but he felt that I was a wet blanket. There was probably truth to it forty years ago. Today, technology has freed up life for us T1Ds. Of course that freedom means relying on all manner of medical apparatus and being visible about it.”
Museum curator, 77, Learns Gen Z (AAVE) Slang and Goes Viral: “Honestly, she ate.”
The National Gallery of Art’s deputy head of sculpture stepped behind a 16th-century urn and began to describe it to the camera. “Chat, I’m about to buss it down Roman Empire style,” said Alison Luchs, 77, using Gen Z slang she recently learned. “Haters will say this urn is mid, but they don’t know we’ve clocked its tea.”
Aging with T1D: In Living Color
Haidee Merrit is a New Hampshire-based artist best known in theT1D community as a cartoonist whose three books of diabetes-themed cartoons and illustrations share a humorous, and often edgy, take on life as a type one. She is also a colorful artist whose works are vibrant and lively, often featuring vividly detailed insects or splashy abstract landscapes. She met with us at T1Dto100 to talk about what led her to her specific art forms and her philosophy about living with T1D.