Is it possible to be diagnosed as a diabetic but you're not?

[MargB]

Someone asked me if I was 100% certain I was diabetic and I didn't know how to answer. She said she was only borderline diabetic as her HbA1C was at 7.8% and her GP was not going to do any further tests. I said my level at diagnosis had been 7.3% and was now down to 5.4% and then she asked if I was sure I was a diabetic!!!

I don't have hypos and don't have any symptoms or problems at all so if I even think about maybe I am not diabetic, is that denial??

Very puzzled. I don't want any symptoms but have accepted right from the start that I am diabetic. Straight on to Metformin, lost loads of weight so I consider my diabetes is currently under control.

But I am still diabetic. Right?

 

[Nicky1970]

Either she's in denial or needs to find a competent GP.

 

[Robster65]

I'm guessing Marg is referring to herself, rather than her friend. But I may well be wrong.🙂

I'm not familiar with the tests that are done. Mine was diagnosed from a urine dip stick and a declaration of "Get him to hospital!".
But I believe they look for antibodies and other things that confirm how well your pancreas is producing insulin and how resistant you are.

As a type 2, presumably your resistance was the main decider. So, as I understand it, just like the participants in the recent 600 calorie diet trial, you are, and always will be diabetic, but the symptoms are negligable while you control it as you are doing.

I think. 🙄

(and it would be a shame to lose you from our exclusive club )

Rob

 

[Vicsetter]

If you are taking metformin and hba1c is 5.4 you are diabetic marg. A normal non-diabetic HbA1C is 3.5-5.5%. Count yourself as diabetic, keep up the diet control, exercise and metformin and you should avoid complications. Your friend should get a second opinion, it's possible that diet and exercise could bring it down but it should be diagnosed and they should be given advice on how to manage it.

P.S. you shouldn't get hypos, you're not on a drug that will cause it so don't worry.

 

[lizabetic]

In that case maybe i'm not diabetic 😛 My Hba1c is 5.6% without medication!
You'd never know if I hadn't of been ill in the first place.
Obviously I do get highs ..

 

[mcdonagh47]

Someone asked me if I was 100% certain I was diabetic and I didn't know how to answer. She said she was only borderline diabetic as her HbA1C was at 7.8% and her GP was not going to do any further tests. I said my level at diagnosis had been 7.3% and was now down to 5.4% and then she asked if I was sure I was a diabetic!!!

Perhaps you should ask your friend how the 7.8 was obtained and if she is really talking about an HbA1c or a bg reading.

It depends what your friend was referring to. If she had tested out at 7.8 at the 2 hour mark of an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) she would be classified as IGT ( Impaired Glucose Tolerance) not Type 2 Diabetic. IGT is often called "pre-diabetic". But that doesn't let her off the hook - she would still need to follow a careful D&E regime.

And no they probably wouldn't want any more tests ( for now) after a result like that if it was an OGTT.

"Borderline diabetic" is a dangerous and stupid term that should never be used. The diagnostic tests for T2 are meant to be absolute.

 

[MargB]

Thanks everyone - you confirm what I had thought but I was really stuck on how to answer her.

I am not sure which tests she had, it was a bit of a confusing story she was telling me to be honest.

Glad I didn't follow her advice and march into my GP and ask if they were sure I was diabetic!!!

 

[hyper-Suze]

Thanks everyone - you confirm what I had thought but I was really stuck on how to answer her.

I am not sure which tests she had, it was a bit of a confusing story she was telling me to be honest.

Glad I didn't follow her advice and march into my GP and ask if they were sure I was diabetic!!!

Although, I'm sure this is a rare rare thing to happen, but my consultant loves telling the tale of a patient who transferred from another NHS trust and after a few months couldn't understand why a T1 was on such a small amount of insulin (fast acting and long).
He asked her to be daring for a few weeks and stop all meds(not suggesting this is what to do!!!!!!!) ...her bloods came back in normal range even after eating all sorts of carbs/sugars.
She wasn't even diabetic, had been on insulin for ages and the other hospital hadn't noticed her low doses. My consultant figured she went to the doctors whilst fighting an illness which shot up her bg's, even for a non diabetic...scary stuff

...just thought I'd throw that tale in the mix but I doubt Marg, that your doc is wrong and it does sound like your friend's doc maybe. Just because our HBA's reduce doesn't mean we are no longer D's...we are just well behaved D's!!!!