Type 1 Diabetes: Living With Complications

Call 911 or other emergency services right away if you are:

• Unconscious or you suddenly become very sleepy or confused. You may have low blood sugar, called hypoglycemia.
  • Emergency care for low blood sugar
• 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.
  • Sick day guidelines
• 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.