
April 14, 2003
Daily Care
Question from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA:
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about four months ago, and am taking a diabetes pill. Even though I don’t take insulin, can I have a diabetes attack of any kind (e.g., passing out, vomiting, or anything like that)?
Answer:
These attacks as you call them are due to either high or low blood sugar. If you work at controlling your diabetes through meal planning, physical activity, and whichever oral hypoglycemic agents you have been given, the likelihood of this happening to you is very small.
JS
Additional comments from Shirley Goodman, diabetes nurse specialist:
You don’t mention which medication you are using for your diabetes. Certainly the pills used to treat type 2 diabetes have side effects or can cause low blood sugar. I would encourage you to speak with your doctor or pharmacist about your medication and the specific common effects of that medication.
SG