Diabetes Misdiagnosis: How It Happens and What to Do

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects more than 37 million people in the United States. Often, there is no distinction among the main types of diabetes. However, when the wrong type of diabetes is diagnosed, it can lead to serious health issues. Blood and stool tests can test for the different types of diabetes, providing a firm diagnosis.

This article will discuss type 1, type 2, and type 3c diabetes misdiagnosis. It will also cover how to confirm a diabetes diagnosis.

Mistaking Type 1 for Type 2 Diabetes

Mistaking type 1 for type 2 diabetes is a severe and dangerous issue. People with type 2 diabetes tend to be diagnosed later in life. They may or may not need medication to manage their diabetes. Often, the treatment is an oral medication. Whereas people with type 1 diabetes need insulin injections.

People with type 2 diabetes can have similar symptoms as those with type 1. These include:

• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Hunger
• Tiredness

These symptoms can occur in either type of diabetes, which makes distinguishing the two difficult.

What becomes dangerous for someone with type 1 diabetes, and is not diagnosed correctly, is that they can develop a severe and life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This condition causes the blood to become too acidic. The symptoms include:

• Fruity-smelling breath
• Decreased alertness
• Fast breathing
• Dehydration
• Increased urine output
• Headache

Type 1 diabetes was traditionally thought of as a childhood condition. However, a study found that 38% of participants over 30 years old were misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes and did not receive the correct treatment.

Mistaking Type 2 for Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes, also called insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes, is when the pancreas stops making or does not make enough insulin. It is caused by an autoimmune reaction where the body destroys the insulin-making cells of the pancreas.

Type 1 diabetes is far less common than type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is commonly diagnosed in children and young adults but can be diagnosed at any point in a person's lifetime.

Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed with various blood tests. One test is an antibody test. This is only used to diagnose type 1 diabetes, not type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is not common for type 2 diabetes to be mistaken for type 1 diabetes.

Someone can have type 2 diabetes and then have an autoimmune reaction that causes type 1 diabetes later in life. However, type 2 diabetes cannot turn into type 1 diabetes.

Misdiagnosis of 3c Diabetes

The two jobs of the pancreas are to make insulin and digest fat. In type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not make any or enough insulin. In type 3c diabetes, also called pancreatogenic diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin and does not properly digest fat.

About 80% of the time, pancreatitis causes type 3c diabetes. Other causes include:

• Cystic fibrosis (an inherited disorder affecting the lungs and digestive tract)
• Hemochromatosis (a genetic disorder that causes iron buildup)
• Pancreatic cancer
  
• Pancreas surgery or removal

According to a 2016 study, there is no universal basis to diagnose type 3c diabetes. The study continues to say that a person's diagnosis may be based on the following criteria:

• Standards for a diabetes diagnosis are met
• Presence of a diagnosed condition that affects the pancreas
• No indication of type 1 diabetes autoimmune markers
• A positive stool (poop) test for undigested food

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes have set diagnostic standards, but type 3c does not. This may make it difficult for healthcare providers to diagnose.

Misdiagnosis of Secondary Diabetes

Secondary diabetes is when someone develops diabetes due to another condition. Conditions that have been identified to cause secondary diabetes are:

• Endocrine diseases (affecting glands and organs secreting hormones)
• Cushing's syndrome (a rare disorder involving overexposure to cortisol)
• Acromegaly (too much growth hormone is released from the pituitary gland)

Medications like steroids can also cause secondary diabetes.

Type 3c diabetes is a subcategory of secondary diabetes. When someone is diagnosed with diabetes, it may be driven by a condition that causes an increase in blood glucose (sugar). If the condition is not identified as a causative factor, it may be misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetes.

How to Confirm a Diagnosis

Each type of diabetes is diagnosed differently. Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed with blood tests. A high glucose test will tell healthcare providers that the pancreas is not making enough insulin. However, this could indicate a person has either type 1 or 2 diabetes. An antibody test is used to confirm type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed with a blood sugar test called fasting plasma glucose. For this test, you fast (don't eat) overnight and have your blood drawn for the test. A result of more than 126 milligrams of sugar per deciliter of blood (mg/dL) indicates that you have type 2 diabetes. Some healthcare providers may also use the antibody test to ensure you do not have type 1 diabetes.

Type 3c diabetes is diagnosed when you have diabetes, are positive for undigested food in your stool, and have a condition that affects your pancreas.

Summary

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects millions of people in the United States. There are different types of diabetes, and the symptoms of each type overlap. This can lead to a misdiagnosis. Thankfully, there are blood and stool tests that can guide healthcare providers and give them an accurate diagnosis.

A Word From VeryWell

A diabetes misdiagnosis can cause serious harm, especially if you have type 1 diabetes but are treated as if you have type 2 diabetes. Report all of your symptoms to your healthcare providers. If you do not feel better after treatment, continue to advocate for yourself. And if you have diabetes, talk to a specialist who is familiar with the different types and can guide you through the best treatment plan.