Well, I think you're both right in what you say. True, there are deniers and people with their heads in the sand about
their diabetes, and there are those who are not even diagnosed for many reasons. In my case, I have insurance and good medical care but my doctor was not aggressive in diagnosing my diabetes. I'd had elevated fasting for several years at my annual physicals; diabetes is in my family; I was overweight, middle-aged and female: common factors.
Now I know I should have been prescribed the blood sugar meter many years before the doctor finally did. I think many doctors are fine with the old ADA parameters of what the blood sugar levels should determine diabetes. This nonsense of using the term "prediabetes" is misleading in my opinion. I'm sorry, but I believe either you have the disease or you don't. I have diabetes but I can control it without meds so far. My other gripe is the idea of having your cake and eating it, too. (Sounds like Paula Deen.) So you don't want to give up the food that will kill you? Fine. Medicate yourself till you're blue in the face. And that carries its own side effects. At the risk of sounding like the Southern Fried Butter Queen, you can eat some cake sometimes - but to me this doesn't mean a small piece every night or every week like her "moderation". A birthday? Yes, take half a piece and don't eat the frosting. Thanksgiving? Ok, take one spoon (a tablespoon not a large serving spoon) of mashed potatoes. And finally, take charge of your health.
What does this mean? Take charge of your health? Find out as much as you can about your meds, find out as much as you can about your diagnoses, question the doctor, take your meds, eat reasonably and healthily (fresh food, not canned, boxed, prepared) and walk everyday, exercise if you can. We should be responsible for more than taking a pill or a shot. Diabetes may be a death sentence for those who do nothing or those who are never diagnosed, but with knowledge we can beat the odds.
(I like my soap box. 
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