# Can doctors tell the difference between diabetes and starvation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-doctors-tell-the-difference-between-diabetes-and-starvation/797305 "2017-09-25T22:13:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-doctors-tell-the-difference-between-diabetes-and-starvation/797305/21 "2017-09-26T13:55:46Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > We don’t know that, but it’s an observable phenomena, and pretty @#$@# annoying to we diabetics at times. It’s part of the fun of T1 (and I’m guessing T2 as well but I’m not an expert in that) diabetes that you not only get to have to magically figure out how much insulin you need to cover basic daily needs and whatever food you happen to eat, but if you want to (gasp!) work out at all you have to take the very-real chance that you’ll go low during exercise. > > I try as much as possible to time workouts during times where I don’t have a lot of extra insulin in me. Otherwise I end up having to stop and chow down some sugar in the middle of the workout. Not fun. Yes for T2s, but most likely if we’re taking meds to lower our bloodsugar. We still get those random spurts of insulin from our pancreas too so it’s all a guessing game. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2017, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-doctors-tell-the-difference-between-diabetes-and-starvation/797305/22 "2017-09-26T23:16:32Z")
A quick blood glucose test will tell you what your blood glucose is; it will not tell you if you have diabetes. As others have mentioned, there are lab value criteria for that, and for differentiating type 1 from from type 2 (though it is not always black and white). Also, by the time a diabetic’s breath smells of acetone, he or she is very ill and many other warning signs have probably gone unrecognized or were ignored. mmm ---
**Author:** ![GythaOgg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@GythaOgg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GythaOgg)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-doctors-tell-the-difference-between-diabetes-and-starvation/797305/23 "2017-09-27T14:37:27Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > We don’t know that, but it’s an observable phenomena, and pretty @#$@# annoying to we diabetics at times. It’s part of the fun of T1 (and I’m guessing T2 as well but I’m not an expert in that) diabetes that you not only get to have to magically figure out how much insulin you need to cover basic daily needs and whatever food you happen to eat, but if you want to (gasp!) work out at all you have to take the very-real chance that you’ll go low during exercise. > > I try as much as possible to time workouts during times where I don’t have a lot of extra insulin in me. Otherwise I end up having to stop and chow down some sugar in the middle of the workout. Not fun. it’s also no fun is when exercise raises blood sugar. It’s not particularly uncommon - and it’s an effect of stress hormones/action from the liver and exercising with not enough insulin on board. So it’s definitely a delicate balancing act. Cite: [http://www.joslin.org/info/why\_do\_blood\_glucose\_levels\_sometimes\_go\_up\_after\_physical\_activity.html](http://www.joslin.org/info/why_do_blood_glucose_levels_sometimes_go_up_after_physical_activity.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-doctors-tell-the-difference-between-diabetes-and-starvation/797305/24 "2017-09-27T19:52:18Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > A quick blood glucose test will tell you what your blood glucose is; it will not tell you if you have diabetes. As others have mentioned, there are lab value criteria for that, and for differentiating type 1 from from type 2 (though it is not always black and white). > > Also, **by the time a diabetic’s breath smells of acetone, he or she is very ill and many other warning signs have probably gone unrecognized or were ignored.** > mmm Yeah, waiting until you see debris floating in the water is not a good way to find out that your ship is sinking. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-doctors-tell-the-difference-between-diabetes-and-starvation/797305.md?page=1)