Type 2 Diabetes: Living With the Disease

When to Call a Doctor

Call 911 or 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:
  • Emergency care for low blood sugar in people taking oral diabetes medicine.
  • Emergency care for low blood sugar.
• 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.

Go to previous section	Go to top of page	Go to next section
Author:	Judy Dundas	Last Updated: August 18, 2009
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology & Metabolism
© 1995-2009 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.