What if the symptoms you’ve been told are caused by diabetes… actually aren’t?

In this episode 73 of Think Like a Pancreas—The Podcast, Integrated Diabetes Services clinicians Tavia Vital and Alicia Downs examine a frustrating and all-too-common issue in diabetes care… when medical symptoms are incorrectly blamed on diabetes—and the real diagnosis is missed!

From neuropathy and kidney disease to fatigue, pain, and hormonal issues, Tavia and Alicia explain why people with diabetes are frequently told “it’s your diabetes” even when other conditions would also fit. They reveal how systemic healthcare constraints, insurance coding, and time pressure can lead to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, and unnecessary guilt for patients.

Tavia Vital BSN, BA, RN, CDCES is the Director of Intensive Diabetes Management for Integrated Diabetes Services. Tavia is a Registered Nurse, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, and Certified Trainer on most makes/models of insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring systems. Having lived with type one diabetes for over 40 years, she understands that each person’s experiences and needs are unique.

Alicia Downs,  RN, MSN, CDCES,  BC-ADM experienced years of mis-diagnoses and ineffective treatments that gave her the incentive to take the lead in her own health care and educate those around her. Alicia is passionate about providing educated compassionate informed and equitable care to all people.

✔️Blaming your diabetes rather than finding the true cause can create unnecessary emotional and physical stress.

✔️How non-diabetes conditions get mislabeled as diabetes complications

✔️The problem is often systemic. To investigate your potential diagnosis, your doctor needs to first provide a diagnosis.

✔️Your “neuropathy” is often treatable before it is debilitating.

✔️The importance of creating a team “us” with your medical professionals.

00:00 Welcome and introduction

03:01 Understanding the endocrine system

04:39 When it’s really NOT diabetes

07:32 Where the fault lies

12:16 The facts about diabetes related neuropathy

19:54 Rare conditions are not rare in the diabetes population

24:55 Reference ranges, diagnostic ranges, and prevention

29:20 When it wasn’t Tavia or Alicia’s diabetes

35:17 The questions to ask

39:53 One bad lab result doesn’t mean you have another disease

Autonomic Neuropathy Screening Update for People with Type 1 Diabetes

🔵Website: integrateddiabetes.com

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🔵To work with the Integrated Diabetes Services Team , visit https://integrateddiabetes.com/how-to-start-the-process/ ,  or email [email protected]

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Disclaimer

The information contained in this program is based on the experience and opinions of the Integrated Diabetes Services clinical team. Please discuss any changes to your treatment plan with your personal healthcare provider before implementing.