When to see a doctor
Learn about the warning signs that may indicate a need to schedule a doctor's appointment and more.
Learn about the warning signs that may indicate a need to schedule a doctor's appointment and more.
Nobody wants to call the doctor for every little thing—but we know that treatments for diabetes-related health problems are more effective if you start early. So when should you see your doctor? Here are a few guidelines:1
Your doctor may be able to alleviate the symptoms you're experiencing, and even help slow the progression of the problem through better blood sugar control.2
Still not sure? Just call. Your doctor wants to know everything that's going on. If it's no big deal, they'll tell you. Pick up the phone and put your mind at ease.
How long do you spend with your doctor these days? 10 minutes? 15? Even though your time is crunched, there are things you can do to forge a more collaborative relationship, have more productive conversations and make every second count.
When you're feeling ill, you'd like nothing more than to lie in bed with a good book or a bad movie. Yet that's when you need to focus even more on diabetes self-care.
The key to sick days with diabetes is doing all of the thinking ahead of time. That way, when you don't feel like concentrating, you can simply follow the plan.
Involve your diabetes care team in developing your sick day plan—ask them when you should call for help, how often you should check your blood glucose and ketones, what medicines to take and what to eat.
Understanding how illness might affect your blood glucose can help you take the right steps to care for yourself. For example:4
The key to successfully navigating an illness is preparation. By creating your sick day plan and kit before you experience the first signs of illness, you'll be ready to attack a virus head-on.
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1American Diabetes Association. When you're sick. Available at: http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/whos-on-.... Accessed April 30, 2016.
2EndocrineWeb. Diabetic neuropathy symptoms. Available at: https://www.endocrineweb.com/guides/diabetic-neuropathy/diabetic-neuropa.... Accessed February 15, 2017.
3WebMD. Diabetes and infection: how to spot the signs. Available at: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/infections-linked-diabetes. Accessed February 15, 2017.
4Mayo Clinic. Hyperglycemia in diabetes. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyperglycemia/basics/sympt.... Accessed February 15, 2017.
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