When to Call
Who does what — care team, nurse line, pharmacist, urgent care, emergency services — and what to have in front of you.
This section explains who answers which kind of question, and what information makes each call go faster. It does not tell you which one your situation calls for: that judgment belongs to you and to the clinician on the other end of the line. If it feels like an emergency, stop reading and call 911 or your local emergency number.
Guides Available at This Transit Stop
Choosing the Right Contact to Call During Illness
How do I work out which number on my list to ring?
Gather These Before Making a Health Call When Sick
What should I gather before I pick up the phone?
Questions You'll Be Asked on the Phone When Sick
What kinds of questions will I be asked when I call?
Taking Effective Notes During a Care Team Call
How do I effectively take and use notes from my care team call?
When Help is Out of Reach: Steps to Take
What do I do if nobody answers?
Helping Someone Else Call About Your Health
What does the person helping me need to call for medical help?
Preparing to Discuss Alcohol Use and Trauma with Your Care Team
How can I organize my day to talk to my care team about alcohol use and trauma?
Managing Illness During a Dengue Outbreak for Adults with Diabetes
How can I prepare for a common illness during a dengue outbreak?
Organize for an Electrical Stimulation Care Team Meeting
How can I prepare to discuss electrical stimulation with my care team?
Preparing to Discuss Vaccine Response with Your Care Team
How can I prepare for a conversation with my care team about my vaccine response?
How to Prepare for a Caffeine and Heart Health Discussion
How can I prepare to discuss caffeine and heart health with my care team?
Managing Type 2 Diabetes When You Have the Flu
What steps should I take to manage my type 2 diabetes while dealing with the flu?
Manage Your Day with Type 2 Diabetes When Sick
How can I organize my day with type 2 diabetes during a common illness?
Preparing for a Sick Day with a Suspected Viral Infection
How can I prepare for a discussion with my care team if I suspect a viral infection?
Managing Diabetes and Tuberculosis on a Sick Day
How can I effectively manage my diabetes and tuberculosis during a sick day?
Preparing for a Conversation About New Vaccine Approaches
How can I prepare to discuss AI-designed universal vaccines with my care team?
How to Prepare for a Discussion on Smell and Diabetes
How can I prepare to talk to my care team about smell and its impact on my diabetes?
Prepare to Discuss Viral Vaccines with Your Care Team
How can you prepare to discuss viral vaccine advancements with your healthcare provider?
Preparing for a Conversation About Thymus Health
How can I discuss thymus health with my care team?
Managing Common Illnesses with Type 2 Diabetes
How do I organize my day when sick with type 2 diabetes?
Organize Your Day When Facing a Cold or Flu with Diabetes
How can I best prepare to discuss middle ear infections with my diabetes care team?
Prepare for Conversations on Macrophage Reprogramming
How can I prepare to discuss macrophage reprogramming with my care team?
Getting Ready to Discuss UTI Treatments with Your Care Team
How can I prepare for a conversation about UTI treatments?
Managing Your Day With Diabetes During Illness
How can I organize my day when sick with type 2 diabetes?
Managing Klebsiella Pneumoniae Concerns on a Sick Day
How can I prepare to discuss Klebsiella pneumoniae with my care team on a sick day?
Managing Sick Days with Type 2 Diabetes
How can I manage a sick day with type 2 diabetes?
Managing Diabetes with No Sick-Day Plan
How can I organize my day with type 2 diabetes and a common illness?
How to Handle a Sick Day with Type 2 Diabetes and HHV-6A Concerns
How do I manage a sick day with type 2 diabetes if I'm concerned about HHV-6A?
Organizing a COVID-19 Sick Day Plan
How can I prepare to discuss COVID-19 sick-day plans with my doctor?
Organizing Your Day with Type 2 Diabetes When Sick
How can I organize my day with type 2 diabetes if I'm sick?
Organize Your Day When Facing TB Infection
How can I prepare to discuss my TB infection with my care team?
Preparing for Sick Days with Diabetes and Dialysis
How can I prepare for a sick day with type 2 diabetes on dialysis?
Discussions on Bioweapon Concerns with Your Care Team
How do I discuss bioweapon concerns with my care team?
How to Discuss Nasal Vaccine Developments with Your Care Team
How can I prepare to talk about the new nasal vaccine with my healthcare provider?
Preparing for a Sick Day with Type 2 Diabetes
How can I prepare for a sick day with type 2 diabetes?
Preparing to Discuss Chronic Pain with Your Care Team
How can I prepare to talk to my care team about chronic pain?
Prepare for a Vitamin D Talk with Your Care Team
How can I prepare to talk about vitamin D with my care team?