Is it true that people have Type 2 for an average of six years before they are diagnosed?

>I had no clue that I had diabetes. Just menitoned to my Doc. that I was REALLY thirsty. Then after talking for a few minutes she decided to check it out....She was as shocked as I was. I'm not overweight<

That's why she was "shocked", because you aren't overweight; but just like what I posted earlier about sleep apnea, being overweight is just one of many risk factors for developing type two diabetes. As you clearly show, you don't have to be fat to have it, and have it in spades.

It's still amazing to me that people who are under regular, routine care with a doctor aren't having metabolic panels run at the lab at least once a year. People with insurance even aren't getting routine blood work! What gives with that I wonder?

Many others are patted on the head, told they "have a touch of sugar" or "need to eat less junk and lose some weight" or something; the "d" word is never mentioned, so they don't even know they're at risk or how to ward off diabetic progression.

>eat well, don't have an exercise routine, but I am active, don't smoke, don't drink<

Most of that has nothing to do with developing diabetes. It's a myth that you get diabetes from eating sugar, from sitting on your can, or that leading an otherwise healthy lifestyle is any kind of protection. A lot of type 2s have a family history, and most of us don't have to dig too deep to find it.

>Is it true that people have Type 2 for an average of six years before they are diagnosed?<

Something like that. And as you can imagine, a lot of complications can get a good start in that time delay.