Diabetes Health Center
Type 2 Diabetes: Living With the Disease - When to Call a Doctor
Call911or other emergency services immediately if you are:
- Unconscious or become very sleepy unexpectedly. You may have low blood sugar, called hypoglycemia. While you wait for emergency help, follow:
- Drowsy, confused, breathing fast, and your breath smells fruity. You may have high blood sugar, called hyperglycemia. A life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis could be present.
Call a doctor immediately if you are vomiting and cannot keep down liquids and:
- Your blood sugar is 300 mg/dL or higher.
Call a doctor if you:
- Are sick for more than 2
days (unless it is a mild illness, such as a cold), and you
have:
- Been vomiting or had diarrhea for more than 6 hours.
- Followed the doctor's advice but it has not worked. Learn what to do when you are sick and have diabetes.
- Blood sugar levels that are often above 300 mg/dL, and urine tests for ketones show more than 2+ or moderate or higher ketones.
- Have a blood sugar level that stays below the target range after you eat some quick-sugar food.
- Have a blood sugar level that stays high after you take a missed dose of insulin or oral diabetes medicines or after you take an extra dose of insulin (if prescribed by the doctor).
- Have frequent problems with high or low blood sugar levels. Your insulin dose or schedule may need to be changed.
- Have difficulty knowing when your blood sugar is low (hypoglycemia unawareness).
- Have problems following the meal plan or getting physical activity, and you want help.
Watchful Waiting
Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your symptoms or condition without changing your treatment plan. Watchful waiting is not appropriate if you:
- Are having high or low blood sugar levels frequently.
- Begin to notice symptoms of complications from diabetes. Early treatment of complications can prevent or delay worsening of the condition.
Who to See
Health professionals who may be involved in your treatment for type 2 diabetes include:
- A family medicine doctor, general practitioner, or internist.
- A certified diabetes educator (CDE).
- A registered dietitian.
- An endocrinologist.
If you have signs of diabetic complications, you may be referred to a specialist. For more information, see the topic Type 2 Diabetes: Living With Complications.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Type 2 Diabetes: Living With the Disease Topics
Indication
Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl 10 mg extended-release tablets) is an alpha1-blocker for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH.
Important Safety Information
Do not take UROXATRAL if you have liver problems or if you are taking antifungal drugs like ketoconazole or itraconazole, or HIV drugs like ritonavir.
UROXATRAL can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when starting treatment. This may lead to fainting, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do any dangerous activity until you know how UROXATRAL will affect you. This is especially important if you already have a problem with low blood pressure or take medicines to treat high blood pressure. There may be an increased risk of low blood pressure and fainting when taking UROXATRAL in combination with blood pressure medication or nitrates, or erectile dysfunction medication.
If considering cataract surgery (clouding of the eyes), tell your eye surgeon that you are currently taking UROXATRAL or have previously been treated with an alpha-blocker.
Before taking UROXATRAL, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems.
Also, tell your doctor if you or any family member(s) have or take medications for a rare heart condition known as congenital prolongation of the QT interval.
BPH and prostate cancer can cause the same symptoms. However, UROXATRAL is not a treatment for prostate cancer.
The most common side effects with UROXATRAL are dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and tiredness.
Please see UROXATRAL full prescribing information.
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