Elizabeth Perkins' Diabetes Diagnosis Was Missed by Doctors for 3 Years
Woman's World
Last updated: May 25, 2026
Actress Elizabeth Perkins experienced severe health issues for three years, including extreme fatigue, weight loss, and constant thirst, but was repeatedly misdiagnosed by multiple doctors. Her experience highlights the importance of patients advocating for their own health and seeking appropriate diagnostic tests.
- Perkins presented textbook symptoms of a serious health condition, but doctors attributed them to hormonal changes, perimenopause, or mental health, even prescribing Prozac. Despite undergoing numerous blood tests, a crucial glucose check was consistently overlooked.
- During a routine gynecology appointment, a nurse administered a glucose test that revealed Perkins' blood glucose level was an alarmingly high 640 mg/dL, a level that typically requires immediate medical attention and can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis.
- She was subsequently hospitalized and diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Her ordeal underscores a known disparity where women's health concerns are often dismissed or misdiagnosed, particularly when symptoms overlap with conditions like menopause or anxiety.
- Perkins now manages her diabetes with frequent glucose monitoring and urges women to be their own health advocates, listen to their bodies, and insist on necessary tests, emphasizing that a simple glucose test is inexpensive and readily available.
