The importance of Self Educating

[Andy-Sev]

It has now been roughly two months since I was diagnosed as diabetic and in those couple of months I have learned a lot. The one thing I haven't yet learned is my type as going on age and weight you would have looked at me and say Type 2, but I presented with Type 1 symptoms. Initially I was put on insulin but after a few weeks came off that and put on Metformin, just one tablet a day at breakfast. Now in that time I have seen various professionals with differing opinions:

• Initially there were the nurses at the A&E who were convinced I was Type 2.
• Then there was the consultant who said she believed I was Type 1 due to those symptoms more typical of Type 1.
• Following on from that there is the DNS at the hospital who thinks I will end up being diagnosed Type 2 but won't ignore that I may actually be LADA.
• The dietician who I spoke to was more inclined to say I was Type 1 and would be on Insulin full time within 6 months, we shall see in 4 months then.
• The GP at my practice who looks after diabetic patients says that he isn't sure but thinks I will be classed Type 2 eventually.
• Then there is the diabetic nurse at the GPs who thinks I am Type 2 purely because of my age and weight at diagnosis.
• But then there is my general GP who took a look at my readings and says that my control and that I can even eat a large carb meal with no spike screams LADA and the honeymoon phase whilst 1 Metformin a day is doing nothing at all.

Why do I mention all this. Well for those going frough what I call diabetic limbo it is easy to get many conflicting opinions when you are a newly diagnosed diabetic, especially when you don't fit the classic profiles causing the specialists to struggle to deal with giving you a specific type. So the one thing I have learned in the short time of being a diabetic is the importance of self educating: read up on everything from the symptoms to the treatments, to diet options so that what ever comes your way you are prepared rather than relying on the professionals to be there with the answers because sometimes it isn't easy even for those with all the qualifications.

 

[Brunneria]

Good luck!

Has anyone actually suggested running the appropriate tests to settle the question?

And (if you haven't already found them) there are some very interesting threads over in the LADA section you may find interesting - suggesting ways to extend the honeymoon for a looooooonnnnnnngggggg time.

 

[CarbsRok]

To save you a lot of ill health and uncertainty why ever do the medics involved not run a couple of simple blood tests to determine what type you have?

 

[Andy-Sev]

@Brunneria and @CarbsRok thanks both for your responses. At diagnosis they did the GAD test which came back negative but I was actually told by the doctor that the negative just added to things being inconclussive. I have had a CT scan on my pancreas which came back as no visible issues, at the time there was a concern that I had pancreatic cancer, and when I spoke to my DNS I asked about having a c-peptide test which she said she would talk to my consultant about but it seems that I, like many, are being left in limbo to see how things play out rather than spending money on the tests. Saying that I have my first follow up appointment with the consultant at the hospital at the start of January and will be pushing for the tests to give me the correct diagnosis even though I have stopped fretting about which Type I am and am just focus on getting and staying healthy whilst being aware of how things could play out.

 

[4ratbags]

Good luck you make sure you push them hard about getting the appropriate tests, it is your right to have them done. Great to see you are still in good spirits despite all the mucking around