Undiagnosed Diabetes

Undiagnosed Diabetes:

Many people have diabetes without knowing it. In fact, estimates have the number of undiagnosed diabetics in the USA at around 8 million, which is about as many have been diagnosed, so about 50% of people who have diabetes are not yet diagnosed. Typically people are not diagnosed at all because they have no serious symptoms, don't know they are sick, and never seek medical care. Occasionally people are treated for a mild diabetes-related complication (e.g. poorly healing skin rash, eye problems) without being diagnosed as diabetic.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type that fails to be diagnosed. It is a slow progressing adult form, and causes symptoms such as skin infections, poor healing, kidney problems, vision problems, and so on. It is common that neither these complications nor the underlying diabetes is diagnosed until after many years of mild symptoms. The problem is usually that people have no severe symptoms and do not seek medical care at all. For this reason it is important to get regularly tested for diabetes in the most common age group (over 40's). Less commonly a doctor may treat other diseases, without realizing to test for diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is less commonly misdiagnosed and missed because it usually has severe symptoms that force people to seek medical advice. However, it is possible that symptoms such as blurred vision or urinary tract infections are treated on their own, without the doctor knowing to check for diabetes. Because Type 1 diabetes usually progresses fast, the diabetes is usually found within a few months, as it gets extreme symptoms (e.g. urination, hunger, weight loss, etc.)

Gestational diabetes can also be missed in pregnancy, because it usually starts with very mild symptoms. It is important to get tested during pregnancy because high blood sugars from gestational diabetes can harm the baby and sometimes lead to maternal complications.

Failure to diagnose Diabetes

No early symptoms: This condition may have no early symptoms, and thus fail to be diagnosed in its early stages.

Vague or mild symptoms: Diabetes may have only vague symptoms in early stages, or otherwise mild symptoms, leading to a delayed diagnosis.

Undiagnosed prevalence of Diabetes:

5.7 million Americans (based on NWHIC)

Undiagnosed prevalence rate:

approx 1 in 47 or 2.10% or 5.7 million people in USA [about data]

Undiagnosed prevalence statistics about Diabetes:

The following statistics relate to undiagnosed cases of Diabetes:

• Estimated 5.2 million people have undiagnosed diabetes in the US 2002 (National Diabetes Statistics fact sheet, NIDDK, 2003)
• 730,000 African Americans are unaware they have diabetes in America (CBCF Health Organisation, 2004)
• Half of the estimated 1 million people with diabetes were unaware of that they had diabetes in Australia 2001 (Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)

Medical news about undiagnosed Diabetes:

The following medical news items are relevant to nondiagnosis of Diabetes:

• 70 percent of people in India may have undiagnosed diabetes
• Diabetes expected to soar over the next 3 decades
• Diuretics and diabetes
• Emergency room doctors need to take greater care when diagnosing patients with chest pain
• Eye doctors can pick up a variety of diseases from an eye examination
• Kidney disease is a seriously underdiagnosed condition in Australia
• Neuropathic pain is may be difficult to diagnose
• One quarter of all Indians have diabetes
• Organisation prevents awareness of PCOS symptoms
• Scientists believe in more types of diabetes
• Symptoms of old age may be similar to many other treatable conditions
• Teen dies from ‘cot death’
• Undiagnosed diabetes can lead to heart problems
• More news »

Undiagnosed Causes of Diabetes

As part of Diabetes diagnosis, consider whether any of these underlying medical Diabetes causes may have been overlooked:

• Metabolic syndrome - a syndrome with 4 key features (diabetes, hypertension, obesity/overweight, and high cholesterol).
• Insulin resistance
• Hemochromatosis - iron overload causes pancreas damage that can mimic Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
• Chronic pancreatitis - pancreas damage that can mimic diabetes.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - ovary cysts inhibit natural female hormones causing insulin resistance
• More hidden causes »

Undiagnosed Complications of Diabetes

As part of Diabetes diagnosis, consider whether any of these Diabetes complications may have been overlooked:

• Short-term complications
  • Hypoglycemia - does not occur from diabetes itself but from the treatments for diabetes (pills or insulin).
  • Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS) - a dangerous syndrome from high blood sugars; typically in Type 2 diabetics at diagnosis or non-compliant to treatment.
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) - a dangerous condition due to high blood sugars; typically in Type 1 diabetics at diagnosis or non-compliant to treatment.
• More complications »

Undiagnosed Diseases

Read our premium medical health articles on topics related to undiagnosed conditions in general, not necessarily specific to Diabetes:

• Failure to Diagnose
• Under-Diagnosed Diseases
• How Common is Failure to Diagnose?
• Conditions by Undiagnosed Prevalence
• More premium medical articles ... »

About undiagnosed conditions:

One possible misdiagnosis is the failure to correctly diagnose Diabetes leading to a person remaining with undiagnosed Diabetes. Any condition can potentially be missed and stay undiagnosed. For a general overview of diseases that are often undiagnosed, see Failure to Diagnose or Under-Diagnosed Diseases.

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