Could someone be misdiagnosed as diabetic? What other reason could cause a ‘temporary’ spike in blood sugar?
A few months ago, I was diagnosed as a diabetic following a series of blood tests (in which my blood sugar count was consistently more than 13 mmol/L.
I was started on medication (Metformin, 500mg, twice a day). Based on a hunch, I got myself one of those blood sugar measuring devices, stopped taking the medication for a couple of days and started taking my own readings.
This revealed my fasting (of 12 hours) blood sugar to be 5.6 mmol/L, two hours after breakfast to be 6.7 mmol/L, two hours after lunch to be 6.5 mmol/L and 6.9mmol/L after dinner and before bedtime. If I’m to believe what I’ve been reading, this is a normal blood sugar level of a person without diabetes.
I’ve stopped taking medication for over a week now and have been monitoring my blood sugar level, and it’s been around the figures I’ve mentioned above when taken randomly as well. Should I stop taking medications and go on with my life? Could I have been misdiagnosed?
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8 Responses to “Could someone be misdiagnosed as diabetic? What other reason could cause a ‘temporary’ spike in blood sugar?”
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Get a second opinion. Doctors can make mistakes. Don’t just quit taking your meds without getting rechecked though, you never know.
ARE YOU STUPID OR JUST DUMB ?
You were properly diagnosed by the use of one or more acceptable tests, yet you want to diagnose yourself by using home tests which are not accurate.
This ain’t rocket science, if you continue to stay in denial, all you will be accomplishing is a very nasty form of suicide.
It is always possible for a doctor to make a mistake. I would go back to the doctor armed with your findings. It is your right, if you don’t like what the doctor tells you, go get a second opinion. But don’t self diagnose. When I am getting sick my doctor can tell by what my sugar reading is. So load up your evidence and get the straight answer.
Diabetes is not a game….it’s a serious health condition that if not treated correctly can lead to blindness, neuropathy etc. U can get a second opinion but don’t just stop treatment. Try thermal therapy which can help relieve neuopathic pain & Watch your diet too.
get your thyroid checked out – I was getting mine done when they found sugar problems and done tests, they tell me I am diabetic, reading was 13 but no pills yet, Friday I have blood test to check if the sugar is coming out or do I need pills, if that’s ok then they will sort out my thyroid. My fasting result was normal.
I agree with the previous replies that said that you are playing a potentially dangerous game.
But that aside, in answer to the original question: yes, there are some things that could cause a temporary spike in blood glucose levels, which could result in a misdiagnosis. One example is Prednisone: it is in the class of drugs known as glucocorticoids, and has a known side effect of raising BG levels.
Type 2 diabetics, and people who are predisposed to developing Type 2 diabetes, get more of a rise in BG levels from Prednisone than other people. However, with very high doses it is possible to see temporarily high glucose levels even in someone who is not gentically prone to develop diabetes.
However, the numbers you are seeing on your meter are closer to pre-diabetes levels than truly “normal”. I would be very, VERY careful if I were you. I’d go back to taking the Metformin also.
You are playing a very serious DEADLY game by trying to diagnose yourself. I am very surprised that the doctor didn’t ORDER you to buy a blood test meter. That is the diabetic’s key to blood sugar control.
But you are being extremely STUPID by stopping your medication without doctor’s orders. This could be VERY deadly, especially in the future.
If you want a solid diagnosis, then have the doctor do this:
1) Get an HbA1C test (also called A1C). This is a very simple test that most doctors can do in their office in 5-10 minutes IF they have the material. Otherwise, they will need to send a blood sample to a lab.
A NORMAL A1C reading is between 5 and 6. If your reading is between 5 and 6 then you probably do NOT have diabetes.
If your A1C reading is above 7, then ask the doctor to do a Glucose Tolerance Test. This is a more complicated test and will require you to stay in the doctor office for 3-4 hours.
But if the Glucose Tolerance Test says that you are diabetic, then you ARE diabetic, and you need to start treatment right away.
If the A1C is above 7, but the Glucvose Tolerance Test says that you are NOT diabetic, then you are probably HYPERGLYCEMIC. In this case you can usually control the problem with exercise, proper diet, and weight loss.
But DON’T PUTZ AROUND WITH DIABETES OR HYPERGLYCEMIA! If you have it, it will only get worse. The question is how soon? Without medications, it will be VERY soon. Uncontrolled diabetes means blindness, heart problems, strokes, kidney failure, loss of nerve functions, sexual problems, and amputations.
ALL of these can be avoided by following the doctors orders.
If you have questions about the diagnosis I would recommend you get a second opinion. It is probably not a good idea to stop taking medication without medical oversight, but getting a second opinion is definitely a good idea.
Good Luck!