Type 1 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed - When To Call a Doctor

When To Call a Doctor

Call 911 or 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:
  • Emergency care for low blood sugar
  • Emergency care for low blood sugar in a child
• 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 250mg/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 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.

Watchful Waiting

Watchful waiting is not appropriate if you or your child with type 1 diabetes is losing consciousness and has high or low blood sugar. High and low blood sugar levels need treatment early so that the level does not continue to rise or drop and cause an emergency situation.

Watchful waiting is not appropriate if you or your child with diabetes is frequently having high or low blood sugar levels. The insulin type, dose, or schedule may need changing.

Who To See

Health professionals who can treat type 1 diabetes include:

• A family medicine doctor or general practitioner.
• An internist.
• An endocrinologist.
• A pediatrician, if your child has diabetes.
• A pediatric endocrinologist, if your child has diabetes.
• A certified diabetes educator (CDE).
• A registered dietitian. You need to talk with a dietitian soon after being diagnosed with diabetes to set up a daily meal and snack plan that spreads carbohydrate throughout your day. From time to time, you may need to talk with the dietitian to make adjustments in your meal plan.

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment