Hi! I was recently diagnosed by my doctor after routine blood work with type 1 diabetes. I am questioning this diagnosis and am looking for some insight from people more experienced than me, because I feel that my doctor is not taking my questions seriously.

I got my fasting blood draw done for my routine physical last week, a1c was at 11, blood sugar was at 285. I am aware and fully accept that this indicates diabetes. I have a family history of type 2 on both sides of my family, probably about half of my adult family members on both sides, so honestly I was expecting it to come up at some point. I am 23 years old, and work a very active job at an animal shelter cleaning kennels, walking dogs, and assisting with lifting animals for surgeries. I am a bit overweight but not obese, I used to be but 3 years ago switched birth controls and have lost weight slowly and steadily since.

When my doctor called Monday with results, she asked some questions:

"Do you drink a lot of water or stay thirsty a lot?" "No"

"How often do you get up to use the bathroom at night?" "Usually once, sometimes not at all"

"Have you lost weight?" "Yes, 60 pounds over the last 3 years after switching birth control, only like 10 pounds the past year though."

She then said that she is diagnosing me with type 1 diabetes. I asked for an in person appointment to discuss my treatment options and she made me one with a different provider as her schedule was full.

A few hours later, she texted to let me know she had sent me in an insulin prescription. I looked and she had prescribed 30 units a day (5 fast acting for each meal, 15 long acting at night) which I felt like was a lot.

I did some googling in the meantime and felt like I didn't have any of the symptoms really. I also talked to a coworker who is type one and she advised me to hold off on the insulin until speaking to an endocrinologist since I feel fine. I decided to ask about the test for markers to determine the type I have since I have a big family history of type 2.

I went to my appointment with the second doctor that afternoon. I asked him about the test for markers and he said he had never heard of it. He looked up what it was in front of me and decided to order it. He also ordered another fasting blood draw for glucose levels and a1c. When I asked him why they thought it was type 1, he said "it can't be type 2 because you're not obese" which from what I've read is incorrect. I had him send me a referral to an endocrinologist. And he gave me a glucose tester with instructions to track my levels. He seemed to think I was in denial about having diabetes, kept saying "you definitely have it" which I'm not denying I just want to know for sure what type. I also asked why start me out on so much insulin instead of going into diet/exercise details or trying oral medication and his response was "that's a good point".

Does this seem normal? I feel that my doctors thus far have not seemed very knowledgeable about the disease from what I have been researching on my own. I am definitely planning on a second opinion from an endocrinologist either way. Thanks!