Final answer:
During periods of illness, patients with type 1 diabetes should not eliminate insulin even if they experience nausea and vomiting. They should continue to follow medical guidance on managing their blood glucose levels and adapt their meal consumption to several smaller meals throughout the day to stabilize their energy, blood sugar, and insulin levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
Guideline for Periods of Illness in Diabetic Patients
When teaching patients with type 1 diabetes about "sick day rules," it is important to communicate the correct guideline to follow during periods of illness. Specifically, the correct answer to the question is: A) Do not eliminate insulin when nauseated and vomiting. It is crucial for patients to understand that they should continue taking their insulin even when they feel sick, as insulin is still needed to manage blood glucose levels. If patients stop taking insulin, they risk further complications due to hyperglycemia.
When it comes to reporting elevated glucose levels, patients should follow the guidance of their healthcare provider, which often involves reporting glucose levels that are consistently higher than their target range. As for meal consumption, it is advised to eat several smaller meals throughout the day to keep energy, blood glucose, and insulin levels stable, rather than three substantial meals. Reducing food intake and insulin doses during illness can be dangerous and should only be done under medical supervision.