“When should a diabetic go to the hospital?”

If you are feeling sick in any way, you should seek medical attention. This could be a phone call to your primary physician to let them know how you are feeling. If it is late at night and you can't get through, then you may need to go to an ER for any concerning symptoms such as weakness, lethargy, chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, fainting episodes, fever, severe or unrelenting headache, or nausea and vomiting or diarrhea. These and other signs and symptoms could indicate a serious condition that could only be diagnosed after a proper patient history, exam, and workup was performed in a clinical setting.

There is no level of glucose that requires hospitalization. If the glucose is so low you are unable to eat to bring it up, then you need to contact the closest First Aid. If the glucose is too high and you are able to contact your physician, please do this before going to the hospital. If the glucose is too high and you are have difficulty breathing, having excessive urination, and becoming dehydrated, then you need to go the closet emergency department. The dehydration can cause coma and eventually death. Again, it is not a number, but a symptom that requires a visit from emergency medical personnel.

You only have to go if your sugars are too high such as in the 400s or so. Other reasons to go would be recurrent nausea and vomiting, or other infections.

Thank You,

Libu Varughese

The goal is to not have to go to the hospital. This can be avoided by seeing your PCP or endocrinologist regularly, especially if you develop an ulcer or infection on your feet. Monitor your sugars regularly, take your medications as prescribed. If you develop chest discomfort however, or become very sick with nausea vomiting, it might be a good idea to go to the hospital to get checked out as diabetics can have atypical symptoms or no symptoms when having a heart attack.

Uncontrolled bg
Persistent nausea and vomiting
Fever
Abdominal pain
Decreased urine output
Any signs of infection….