Many people treat diabetes as a temporary problem that appears when sugar levels rise and disappears once symptoms fade. But that belief can turn dangerous when silent damage continues for years in the background. A recent case shared online by a doctor has reignited conversation around untreated diabetes, delayed testing, and the hidden toll it can take on vital organs. What seemed like swollen feet and breathlessness was, in reality, the endpoint of a much longer health story unfolding quietly.
Dr Priyam Bordoloi took to X and recounted an encounter with a patient who arrived complaining of swollen feet and shortness of breath. He asked a routine and important question: whether the patient had a history of high blood pressure or diabetes. The patient reportedly said no. He described himself as someone who had always been healthy and had no known ongoing medical problems.
Lab reports told a different story
However, the laboratory reports painted a starkly different picture. According to Dr Bordoloi, the patient’s creatinine level was 8.4, a figure that can indicate severe kidney dysfunction when significantly elevated. His HbA1c, a test used to estimate average blood sugar levels over the previous few months, was 12.1 per cent, suggesting long-standing and poorly controlled diabetes.
Faced with those results, Dr Bordoloi asked again whether the patient had ever been told he had diabetes. That is when another part of the story emerged. The patient recalled that around 20 years earlier, a doctor had informed him that he had what many people casually refer to as sugar and had prescribed medication. Dr Bordoloi asked whether he had continued the treatment.
The patient said he took the tablets for about a month. When his sugar levels came down, he assumed the problem had been cured. Since he did not feel unwell, he saw no reason to continue taking medicines. The doctor then asked whether he had checked his blood sugar at any point over the next two decades. The answer was no.
The patient believed he had solved the issue by stopping sweets and starting regular walks. In his mind, the condition had gone away.
Common and risky beliefs around diabetes
That misunderstanding is one of the most common and risky beliefs about diabetes. Unlike infections that may resolve with a short course of treatment, diabetes is typically a chronic metabolic condition that requires long-term monitoring and management. Symptoms may not always be obvious, especially in the early or middle stages, but damage can continue silently to the kidneys, nerves, eyes, heart, and blood vessels.
When Dr Bordoloi asked about the swelling in the feet, the patient reportedly said he thought the urine was getting stuck. He then asked if a single tablet could fix the kidneys that same day because he had a wedding to attend. The exchange was striking not because it was unusual, but because it reflects how chronic illness is often misunderstood. Many patients seek help only when symptoms become severe, hoping for a quick solution to problems that have developed gradually over the years.
The case also highlights the importance of routine screening. Blood sugar checks, HbA1c tests, blood pressure monitoring, urine tests, and kidney function assessments can help detect problems early, often before symptoms become dramatic.
Lifestyle habits such as walking, weight management, balanced eating, and reducing excess sugar are valuable parts of prevention and diabetes care. But they are not substitutes for diagnosis, follow-up, and medical guidance when someone already has the condition.
Dr Priyam Bordoloi took to X and recounted an encounter with a patient who arrived complaining of swollen feet and shortness of breath. He asked a routine and important question: whether the patient had a history of high blood pressure or diabetes. The patient reportedly said no. He described himself as someone who had always been healthy and had no known ongoing medical problems.
Lab reports told a different story
However, the laboratory reports painted a starkly different picture. According to Dr Bordoloi, the patient’s creatinine level was 8.4, a figure that can indicate severe kidney dysfunction when significantly elevated. His HbA1c, a test used to estimate average blood sugar levels over the previous few months, was 12.1 per cent, suggesting long-standing and poorly controlled diabetes.Faced with those results, Dr Bordoloi asked again whether the patient had ever been told he had diabetes. That is when another part of the story emerged. The patient recalled that around 20 years earlier, a doctor had informed him that he had what many people casually refer to as sugar and had prescribed medication. Dr Bordoloi asked whether he had continued the treatment.
The patient said he took the tablets for about a month. When his sugar levels came down, he assumed the problem had been cured. Since he did not feel unwell, he saw no reason to continue taking medicines. The doctor then asked whether he had checked his blood sugar at any point over the next two decades. The answer was no.
The patient believed he had solved the issue by stopping sweets and starting regular walks. In his mind, the condition had gone away.
Common and risky beliefs around diabetes
That misunderstanding is one of the most common and risky beliefs about diabetes. Unlike infections that may resolve with a short course of treatment, diabetes is typically a chronic metabolic condition that requires long-term monitoring and management. Symptoms may not always be obvious, especially in the early or middle stages, but damage can continue silently to the kidneys, nerves, eyes, heart, and blood vessels.When Dr Bordoloi asked about the swelling in the feet, the patient reportedly said he thought the urine was getting stuck. He then asked if a single tablet could fix the kidneys that same day because he had a wedding to attend. The exchange was striking not because it was unusual, but because it reflects how chronic illness is often misunderstood. Many patients seek help only when symptoms become severe, hoping for a quick solution to problems that have developed gradually over the years.
The case also highlights the importance of routine screening. Blood sugar checks, HbA1c tests, blood pressure monitoring, urine tests, and kidney function assessments can help detect problems early, often before symptoms become dramatic.
Lifestyle habits such as walking, weight management, balanced eating, and reducing excess sugar are valuable parts of prevention and diabetes care. But they are not substitutes for diagnosis, follow-up, and medical guidance when someone already has the condition.