"Being misdiagnosed just sucked. I don't want anyone else to experience that. "

A sudden, chronic pain condition led to Kat Jury, 37, being diagnosed with diabetes. But Kat was initially misdiagnosed with type 2 and had to fiercely advocate to finally get the correct diagnosis of type 3c.

- KAT, TYPE 3C

My diagnosis came totally out of the blue, about 14 months ago. I had my daughter in 2015 and nearly failed the gestational diabetes test. I had to re-take it and passed the second one, but only just. But nobody followed up.

Life-changing symptoms

In April 2023, I started to get random episodes where I'd get really sick after eating. I thought that I had food poisoning. This happened about four times. After that, I started getting nerve pain down one side of my face. I was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia - a chronic pain condition impacting the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for sensation in the face, characterised by sudden and intense pain that can feel like an electric shock. It was the worst pain I could ever imagine. It started in the cheekbone and radiated down to my teeth. It got so bad I almost went to the emergency department but couldn't because I didn't have anyone to look after my child.

I also lost a large amount of weight, without trying, over the course of 2023. I lost 34 kilos even though I was eating more than my husband at the time! At first I assumed it was because of work, we were contract gardeners. I was drinking loads of water as well, about three litres just before breakfast. I was also suffering from hair loss, which the doctor thought was a thyroid issue.

The wrong diagnosis