Type 1 Diabetes: Living With the Disease - When To Call a Doctor
Call 911 or other emergency services right away if you are:
- Unconscious or you suddenly become very sleepy or confused. You may have low blood sugar, called hypoglycemia.
- Sleepy, confused, breathing very fast, or your breath smells fruity. You may have a life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis.
Call a doctor right away if:
Overcoming Objections to Injections
There was a time when doctors couldn't get anywhere near Sherri Buffington with a needle. "I was deathly afraid of needles," recalls the 44-year-old senior legal secretary from Sicklerville, N.J. "I've been petrified of needles since I was a little kid." Then in 2004, Buffington was diagnosed with diabetes. When oral medications didn't control her disease, her doctor prescribed an injectable prescription medication along with insulin. Taking these drugs meant she would have to inject herself, sometimes...
Read the Overcoming Objections to Injections article > >
- Your blood sugar is 300 mg/dL or higher (or it is higher than the level your doctor has set for you).
Call a doctor if you:
- Are sick and having trouble controlling your blood sugar.
- Have had vomiting or diarrhea for more than 6 hours.
- Often have problems with high or low blood sugar levels.
- Have trouble knowing when your blood sugar is low (hypoglycemia unawareness).
- Have questions or want to know more about diabetes.
Who To See
Health professionals involved in your treatment may include:
- A family medicine physician.
- A general practitioner.
- An internist.
- An endocrinologist or pediatric endocrinologist.
- An adolescent medicine specialist.
- A pediatrician.
- A nurse practitioner.
- A physician assistant.
- A certified diabetes educator (CDE).
- A registered dietitian.
Who to see for complications
If you begin to have symptoms of complications from diabetes, you may be referred to:
- A cardiologist or vascular specialist, for treatment of heart and circulation problems.
- A nephrologist, for treatment of kidney disease.
- An ophthalmologist for diagnosis and treatment of eye disease, or an optometrist for diagnosis of eye disease. Ophthalmologists treat retinal complications from diabetes.
- A neurologist, for treatment of nerve damage.
- A gastroenterologist, for treatment of problems in the stomach and intestines.
- A urologist, for treatment of problems with sexual function or the urinary tract.
- A podiatrist, pedorthist (a certified technician who can make special shoes or shoe inserts), or orthopedic surgeon, for foot and ankle problems.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Type 1 Diabetes: Living With the Disease Topics
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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