Type 1 Diabetes
When To Call a Doctor
Call911or other emergency services immediately if:
- A person is losing consciousness or becomes unconscious. He or she may have low blood sugar, called hypoglycemia.
- A person is drowsy, confused, breathing fast, especially if their breath smells fruity or like nail polish. He or she may have the life-threatening chemical imbalance diabetic ketoacidosis.
Call a health professional if:
- You (or your child) have increased urination, increased thirst, weight loss, and possibly increased appetite. These symptoms may indicate type 1 diabetes.
- You have a family history of type 1 diabetes and want to be tested.
Watchful Waiting
Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your health professional observe your symptoms or condition without using medical treatment. Watchful waiting is not appropriate if you think you or your child may have symptoms of type 1 diabetes, such as increased urination, increased thirst, weight loss, and possibly increased appetite. A blood test is all that is needed to determine whether a person has the disease.
Who To See
Your family doctor or general practitioner can diagnose or treat diabetes. You may be referred to a specialist, such as an endocrinologist or a pediatrician.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment
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| Author: | Alison Allen Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: February 21, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
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