Medical History for Type 2 Diabetes
Symptoms
If your doctor suspects that you have type 2 diabetes, he or she will ask about possible symptoms.
- Have you had symptoms of diabetes, such as increased thirst, increased urination, fatigue, or blurred vision?
- How long have you had symptoms?
- Has your appetite increased lately?
- Have you recently lost or gained weight?
Family and medical history
The doctor will also ask about your family and medical history.
Andrea Kolligian has learned that she's likely to get well-meaning comments if she eats a donut. "Can you eat that? Are you sure you can eat that?" a friend or coworker will ask. Kolligian, an administrative assistant at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was a teenager, and has been taking insulin ever since. But like many people with type I diabetes, she's learned that the growing prevalence of the type 2 form of the disease, which is often...
Read the Type 1 in a Type 2 World article > >
- Does your family have a history of type 2 diabetes or heart disease?
- Have you ever had gestational diabetes (diabetes that developed during pregnancy) or delivered a baby that weighed more than 9 lb (4 kg)?
- What medicines are you taking?
- Have you ever been admitted to the hospital or had any surgery?
- Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, or both?
- Have you been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome?
Lifestyle
You will also be asked questions about your lifestyle.
- Do you have any lifestyle, cultural, social, or financial factors that could affect your participation in treatment for diabetes?
- What is your typical diet? What are your eating habits and patterns?
- Do you exercise regularly? What kind of exercise do you do?
- Do you drink alcohol? How often and how much do you drink?
- Do you smoke or have you ever smoked cigarettes?
Complications of diabetes
Your doctor will also ask about possible signs of complications, such as:
- Eye problems. Have you had any problems with double or blurred vision or seeing flashes of light; seeing large, floating red or black spots; or seeing large areas that look like floating hair, cotton fibers, or spiderwebs? When was the last time you had an eye exam?
- Nerve damage. Do you have any numbness, tingling, or pain in your hands, legs, or feet?
- Kidney problems. Have you had any kidney problems in the past?
- Blood vessel disease. Have you had any heart or blood vessel problems in your legs? Have you had chest pain or shortness or breath?
- Sexual problems. Have you had any sexual difficulties lately?
- Persistent infections or slow-healing wounds. Have you had any skin, feet, vaginal, or urinary tract infections lately?
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Is This Normal? Get the Facts Fast!
Answer:
0-69
70-130
131+
Your level is currently
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Did You Know Your Lifestyle Choices
Affect Your Blood Sugar?
Use the Blood Glucose Tracker to monitor
how well you manage your blood sugar over time.
This tool is not intended for women who are pregnant.
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