Medical history for type 2 diabetes
Symptoms
If your health professional suspects that you have type 2 diabetes, he or she will ask about possible symptoms.
- Have you had symptoms of diabetes, such as increased thirst, increased urination, fatigue, or blurred vision?
- How long have you had symptoms?
- Has your appetite increased lately?
- Have you recently lost or gained weight?
Family and medical history
The health professional will also ask about your family and medical history.
- Does your family have a history of type 2 diabetes or heart disease?
- Have you ever had gestational diabetes or delivered a baby that weighed more than 9 lb (4 kg)?
- What medications are you taking?
- Have you ever been admitted to the hospital or had any surgery?
- Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, or both?
- Have you been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome?
Lifestyle
You will also be asked questions about your lifestyle.
- Do you have any lifestyle, cultural, social, or financial factors that could affect your participation in treatment for diabetes?
- What is your typical diet? What are your eating habits and patterns?
- Do you exercise regularly? What kind of exercise do you do?
- Do you drink alcohol? How often and how much do you drink?
- Do you smoke or have you ever smoked cigarettes?
Complications of diabetes
Your health professional will also ask about possible signs of complications, such as:
- Eye problems. Have you had any problems with double or blurred vision or seeing flashes of light; seeing large, floating red or black spots; or seeing large areas that look like floating hair, cotton fibers, or spiderwebs? When was the last time you had an eye examination?
- Nerve damage. Do you have any numbness, tingling, or pain in your hands, legs, or feet?
- Kidney problems. Have you had any kidney problems in the past?
- Blood vessel disease. Have you had any heart or blood vessel problems in your legs? Have you had chest pain or shortness or breath?
- Sexual problems. Have you had any sexual difficulties lately?
- Persistent infections or slow-healing wounds. Have you had any skin, feet, vaginal, or urinary tract infections lately?
| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS | Last Updated: July 11, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism | |
 | ||
| |