Type 2 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed
When to Call a Doctor
Call 911or other emergency services immediately if you or your child is:
- Unconscious or becomes very sleepy unexpectedly. You or your child may have low blood sugar, called hypoglycemia. While waiting for emergency help, follow:
- Drowsy, confused, breathing fast, and your or your child’s breath smells fruity or like nail polish. You or your child may have high blood sugar, called hyperglycemia. A life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis could be present.
Call a doctor immediately if you or your child is vomiting and cannot keep down liquids and:
- Your blood sugar is 300 mg/dL or higher.
- Your child’s blood sugar is 250 mg/dL or higher.
Call a doctor if you or your child:
- Is sick for more than 2 days (unless it is a mild illness, such as a cold), and you or your child:
- Has been vomiting or had diarrhea for more than 6 hours.
- Has followed the doctor's advice but it has not worked. Learn what to do when you are sick and have diabetes.
- Has blood sugar levels that are often above 300 mg/dL and urine tests for ketones show more than 2+ or moderate or higher ketones.
- Has a blood sugar level that stays below the target range after eating some quick-sugar food.
- Has a blood sugar level that stays high after taking a missed dose of insulin or oral diabetes medicines or after taking an extra dose of insulin (if prescribed by the doctor).
- Has frequent problems with high or low blood sugar levels. The insulin dose or schedule may need to be changed.
- Is having difficulty knowing when blood sugar is low (hypoglycemia unawareness).
- Has problems following the meal plan or getting physical activity, and you want help.
Who to See
Health professionals who may be involved in your diabetes care include:
- A family medicine doctor.
- A general practitioner.
- A nurse practitioner.
- A physician assistant.
- An internist.
- A certified diabetes educator (CDE).
- A registered dietitian. All people newly diagnosed with diabetes should see a dietitian for help in choosing healthy foods.
- An endocrinologist.
If you have signs that a complication of diabetes may be developing or has developed, you may be referred to a specialist.
More Information:
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| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS | Last Updated: July 11, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism | |
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