Misdiagnosed: A New Mother Fights for the Right Diabetes Diagnosis

Her story began in 2021 during her first pregnancy. At the time, she had no frame of reference for what pregnancy was supposed to feel like. When Morganne experienced increased thirst, fatigue, and shortness of breath, her doctors assured her it was normal.

“It was my first pregnancy, so I didn’t know what to expect,” she said. “Looking back, I had all the signs, but I trusted what I was told.”

An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) revealed her blood sugar levels were dangerously high — between 252 and 288 mg/dL. She was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and started insulin immediately.

Not Responding to Treatment 

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Despite following a diabetes diet and doing everything by the book, her blood sugars barely budged.

“They stayed around 216 mg/dL,” she recalled. “To avoid insulin, I had to be under 7. I knew then that insulin wasn’t optional.”

By the third trimester, things got worse. She felt woozy and breathless, but her concerns were dismissed. During labor, her medical team instructed her to stop eating in case she needed an epidural. Without food or insulin, her blood sugar plummeted to 2 mmol/L (36 mg/dL) — a dangerously low level.

“They didn’t monitor my blood sugar. When I said I didn’t feel well, I had to push them to even check it.”

Postpartum and Left on Her Own
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After giving birth, she was told to stop insulin and resume a normal diet. No one advised her to continue checking her blood sugars. But Morganne had a gut feeling. 

“They said I was just at high risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and not to worry. But I knew — I just knew this wasn’t going away.”

Her postpartum journey was filled with self-advocacy and confusion. At three months postpartum, her blood sugar was still around 8 mmol/L. That’s when she committed to daily walks — three miles each day — and focused on nutrition. By July 2022, her A1C was down to 5.7 percent.

The COVID Curveballs

Then she got COVID-19. Her blood sugars spiked, and by December her A1C had risen to 6.4 percent. After a second bout of COVID in April, her fasting blood sugar hit 14 mmol/L. Her doctor diagnosed her with T2D and put her on Tresiba, a long-acting insulin.

“I cried when she told me I had type 2,” Morganne said. “But she brushed it off like it wasn’t a big deal.”

Even with insulin, her blood sugar was still above 450 mg/dL after meals, and she experienced severe overnight lows — especially while breastfeeding.

Fighting for the Right Diagnosis

Morganne voiced concerns and asked for a fast-acting insulin. “No, no, no,” they told her. “We only adjust doses every three months.”

It didn’t make sense. “I was crying. I was doing everything right — walking, eating healthy — and my blood sugar was all over the place. They kept blaming me.”

A dietitian finally acknowledged something wasn’t right. “She told me she’d never seen a type 2 patient go over 15 mmol/L. She urged me to get tested.”

Morganne requested a C-peptide test. Her doctors laughed it off but agreed. Two weeks later, the results were in: her level was significantly low. She had T1D.

A New Team, A New Beginning

“The endocrinology office was shocked I hadn’t been referred sooner,” she said. “They couldn’t believe how much I had to push just to be taken seriously.”

That appointment changed everything. She was finally connected with the right care team — including an endocrinologist, diabetes educator, and access to a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). With these tools, she began to understand her body’s needs in a way she never had before. 

“I went from feeling like I was failing to actually feeling empowered,” recalled Morganne.

By May 2023, she was on a CGM, a fast-acting insulin, and had a team that listened. She joined Connected in Motion (CIM) and participated in one of their adventure treks, finally finding a community of people who understood.

Owning Her Experience and Moving Forward

Morganne also became a more confident voice in the diabetes space — speaking openly about the challenges of being misdiagnosed and the emotional toll of constantly second-guessing your own body.

“Diabetes is hard, especially as a new mom. I was struggling with my own mortality. But this is also one of the best times to have diabetes — the technology and support are out there.”

Today, Morganne is back at work as a teacher. She’s reaching her A1C goals. She’s learned more about herself than she ever expected.

“I’m sharing this story for me and others,” said Morganne. “We don’t have to do this alone. Stop doing type 1 diabetes alone. Get involved, ask questions, and don’t stop advocating for yourself.”