I have been living with Type 1 Diabetes for 27 years and found out much the same way as you. Extreme thirst and non stop urination is a big sign and you don't have to be over weight to get Type 1. Your questions are all good ones but I think having a blood glucose level of 500 is more then enough for a doctor to make a diagnosis of diabetes (just my opinion).

Your treatment will differ greatly depending on whether you have Type 1 or 2 but either way your life is going to change but it doesn't have to be all bad. Sounds like you are already doing research and that is a great start because Doctors can't always keep up with everything and they do make mistakes. I would also recommend seeking out a local support group and meeting others with the disease. I avoided that for years and wish now that I hadn't because there is a lot to learn from people and it helps knowing that you are not the only one facing the everyday challenges.

I just read a really great article about "excepting your Diabetes" and think that is the key. Excepting this disease was difficult for me in college but once I did I could put forth all the negative energy towards taking care of myself so that I could feel my best and accomplish everything I wanted to. You can do that also, this is not the end just a different starting point leading to whatever you make of it.

drtracin60

8/22/09 10:52am

thank you for your reply.  well as it goes, i used to pack a 6 pack of mountain dew, as well as a gallon of water in my cooler as i work in the florida sun all day long.  i made a couple adjustments to my eating.  NO MOUNTAIN DEW, instead bring crystal lite lemonade and fruit punch packets to add to my water which is now 2 gallons a day to work.  Changed from 2 white bread sandwiches a day to 1 whole wheat sandwich, then a side of meat and cheeses to make up for the other sandwich.  Was diagnosed with type 2 from dr on aug 10th.  He prescriber metformin and gave me a meter and I check 2x a day.  By aug 15, my numbers in am and 2 hr after dinner have been consistant ranging from 75-124.  I have also lost 12 pounds as of today (aug 22) since dr appt on aug 10.  Synopsis is I was drinking myself to diabetes.  Went to nutritionalist and they said i was eating healthy, except to make change to bread intake and no mountain dew.  on sept 1, if #'s are in check, i will not need to take medication any longer.  Dr believes this had just started over the last 2-3 months and that it was caught early enough to correct.  I only changed the above two items, numbers are completely normal within 5 days and I feel no different today than I did 2 weeks ago (other than depressed about the news dr gave me.) 

Thanks again for your reply.