[cuthbert]

Hi everyone,
I have an acquaintance who has recently been shocked to be told that they are Type 2 diabetic, having been diagnosed as Type 1 around 20 years ago!
Since the diagnosis in 1990 they have obviously been injecting every day and their lifestyle naturally changed enormously because of all the adjustments necessary. Now to be told they are (and presumably always have been) Type 2 seems incredible after all this time! Apparently, it seems, 20 years of injecting was unnecessary!
This wrong diagnosis was apparently only picked up recently because my acquaintance controlled their diabetes so well over the years, with their stats showing up as being 'too perfect' by a puzzled consultant.
Surely this is highly unusual. Has anyone out there ever heard of such a mis-diagnosis before?

 

[Jen]

Regardless of the diagnosis, your acquaintance has obviously benefitted from the use of insulin. This is reflected in the excellent control shown over those years. Many T2s use insulin, and it is prescribed earlier in the treatment cycle now than previously. Were I your acquaintance, I would continue with the insulin. It is quite possible that because insulin therapy was begun so very early, years of frustration with medications that don't work as well as the hormone were avoided, as were possible complications of poorly treated T2.

Jen

 

[foxl]

How does the doctor in question define Type 1 and Type 2?

Autoimmunity? Insulin dependence? Or something else?

 

[jeremiahtren]

good question

 

[RobertIA]

I agree your friend may be better for this experience. This is more common than many people realize - the incorrect diagnosis that is.

I hear about this more that I care of admit. This is the reason I wrote this blog Exploring Diabetes Type 2 . More infants are misdiagnosed because doctors are not aware of proper tests.

In discussing my blog with the endo this afternoon, she said that too many people are improperly diagnosed. She has had over 10 patients this year alone that were misdiagnosed until she got them as patients. She would not confirm specific numbers, but one that was in the late 40's was determined to have LADA after several years of being sickly on type 2 medications. She determined that a few type 1's were actually MODY. Most doctors will not do the expensive tests that will determine whether the diabetes is polygenic (type 1 and type 2) or monogenic (MODY).

 

[Anthill]

Hi everyone,
I have an acquaintance who has recently been shocked to be told that they are Type 2 diabetic, having been diagnosed as Type 1 around 20 years ago!?

This very strange to say the least. So how was the control before the discovery of Type 2? I am now just thinking of what doses that you be having. Then again Type 2's do have insulin to inject too.