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Type 1 Diabetes: Living With Complications
- Topic Overview
-
Health Tools
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
- When To Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Prevention
- Home Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Treatment
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
- References
- Credits
Call
- 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:
- 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
The specialist that you need to see depends on which complication you have. The following health professionals treat complications from type 1 diabetes:
- An ophthalmologist or optometrist can diagnose eye disease from diabetes. An ophthalmologist is the preferred specialist for retinal complications.
- A nephrologist treats kidney disease.
- A cardiologist or a vascular surgeon treats heart and/or circulation problems.
- A neurologist diagnoses and treats nerve damage.
- A podiatrist, pedorthist (a certified technician who can make special shoes or shoe inserts), or an orthopedic surgeon treats foot and ankle problems.
- A gastroenterologist treats stomach and intestinal problems.
- A urologist treats sexual and urinary tract problems.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: November 2, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | John Pope, MD - Pediatrics David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology | |
© 1995-2011 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, Incorporated 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.
