For a long time, type 1 diabetes was considered a childhood disease. Until recently, it was called “juvenile diabetes.” I’m here to tell you, just because you’re an adult, doesn’t mean you’ve escaped the wrath of this disease.
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I know this because it happened to me. At age 30, I was misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes for over six months. It wasn’t until I started sharing my diagnosis on TikTok that I discovered the truth, and that it could happen to people my age.
Approximately 60% of diagnoses today occur in adults 20 years of age or older. This type 1 diabetes is called adult latent autoimmune diabetes. Most importantly, 90% of patients diagnosed with type 1 have no family history.
By 2050, the prevalence of people with diabetes is expected to more than double to 1.3 billion. Spreading awareness of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes and early screening will help people get the correct diagnosis and treatment they need more quickly.
Research published in The Lancet predicts that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes will steadily increase in the coming years.
Even within the medical community, there is a lack of awareness about diabetes. As a result, many people go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes for months or even years. Here’s what you need to know.
The Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas no longer produces insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar, because the immune system attacks itself. Type 2 diabetes, meanwhile, occurs due to insulin resistance, is often caused by lifestyle factors, and is often hereditary. As many as 11% of people with type 2 diabetes may actually have LADA. There are things we can all do to prevent others from going undiagnosed and feeling ill like I did.
The first step is to understand the symptoms of type 1 diabetes. Notable symptoms are excessive thirst and urination, extreme fatigue, blurred vision and weight loss. When I was diagnosed, I was experiencing all of these symptoms and had lost over 20 pounds. After months of misdiagnosis, I saw an endocrinologist who ordered a blood test and within a few weeks, I received the correct Type 1 diagnosis.
If my blood sugar levels are uncontrolled for an extended period of time, I may develop diabetic ketoacidosis, or diabetic ketoacidosis, which can be fatal. In the United States, up to 30% of confirmed cases are detected during this stage.
Another way we can prevent death or disease is by early screening for indicators of type 1 diabetes. Two blood tests can help with diagnosis: a C-peptide test, which measures the amount of insulin a person produces; and an islet autoantibody test, which screens for markers of the autoimmune process associated with type 1 diabetes. With these results, one can prepare and seek treatments to counteract the disease and/or treat it.
New legislation may help
Recent legislation aims to bring early screening for type 1 diabetes to the forefront of preventive care.
Last month, a bipartisan bill called the Strengthening Collective Resources to Encourage Education Required to Encourage Type 1 Diabetes Act was introduced in the House of Representatives. The bill directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to launch a national campaign to increase awareness and knowledge about Type 1 testing, screening, and management and will allocate $5 million to CDC to conduct this activity.
For my part, I will continue to share my story through articles like this, videos on social media, and interviews on my podcast, Diabetech. I hope no one ever has to go through the long term illness I went through before getting the correct diagnosis and treatment they need.
Diabetes is a complex and difficult to control disease. Devices such as insulin pumps, smart insulin pens and continuous glucose monitors make managing the disease easier, but they come with a steep learning curve.
I’m lucky enough to be able to interview experts in the field on my podcast, who help me and my listeners learn about the latest tools and techniques. I encourage anyone living with this condition to connect with me on YouTube, Instagram or TikTok to feel less alone and take more control of their personal health.
