It's a mystery

[nxybagr]

Hello there,
I have recently been diagnosed with diabetes but they are unsure at present what type I am. Got a clinic appointment soon. I have a Hba1c of 85 and my blood glucose ranges from anything from 9 to 17.5. Looking forward to find out more a week on Friday when I will hopefully get some answers. BMI of 25 lost 6kg since August. GP gave me her own monitor and some needles and some glucose test strips and sent me on my merry way to await an Out patient appointment. Tried to do some research to work out what type I am and I can't work it out. only 28 years of age and don't really fall in to either type. So I will have to wait and see.

 

[Prem51]

Hi @nxybagr and welcome to the forum. I hope you get an answer to what type of diabetes you have after your clinic appointment. You will get a lot of good advice and support on this forum, whichever type you are diagnosed as.

 

[Jaylee]

Hello!

Unfortunately we get a few like you bemused by diagnosis with no definitive type or appropriate treatment from the outset..

The good news is. You were issued with a meter!

I'll tag in @Daibell he's pretty hot on these sort of conundrums...

Edit; tagging @daisy1 too. She does a great comprehensive welcome pack..

 

[azure]

Hi @nxybagr Are you on any meds?

 

[nxybagr]

Hello!

Unfortunately we get a few like you bemused by diagnosis with no definitive type or appropriate treatment from the outset..

The good news is. You were issued with a meter!

I'll tag in @Daibell he's pretty hot on these sort of conundrums...

Edit; tagging @daisy1 too. She does a great comprehensive welcome pack..

Well I was but only because I asked if I needed one but GP gave me hers out of her case and some out of date strips, but got new ones now.

 

[nxybagr]

Hi @nxybagr Are you on any meds?

Nope on no medication. They want the clinic to sort me out basically.

 

[Daibell]

Hi and welcome. I'm not sure I'm the expert @Jaylee kindly implies but I've been down the 'not sure which type it is' route so can add my thoughts but as an amateur. You say you have lost weight recently? Was that intentional thru dieting or unexpected? Typically those who have some excess weight would be T2 but you are quite young for T2. If you are slim and/or have lost weight unexpectedly like I did then T1 (aka T1.5/LADA)becomes possible. There are two tests for that but it costs the NHS and some GPs won't do it or may not have heard of them but your GP sounds helpful. Either way reducing the carbs will always help and perhaps make diagnosis easier. Meds will be offered if the right diet doesn't reduce blood sugar and some of these will be different between types as T2s often have excess natural insulin and insulin resistance whereas T1s will have inadequate insulin and the body will be starting to burn fat for energy as it can't burn the carbs easily. Hopefully your GP will be able to provide the diagnosis and whatever meds may be needed.

 

[nxybagr]

Hi and welcome. I'm not sure I'm the expert @Jaylee kindly implies but I've been down the 'not sure which type it is' route so can add my thoughts but as an amateur. You say you have lost weight recently? Was that intentional thru dieting or unexpected? Typically those who have some excess weight would be T2 but you are quite young for T2. If you are slim and/or have lost weight unexpectedly like I did then T1 (aka T1.5/LADA)becomes possible. There are two tests for that but it costs the NHS and some GPs won't do it or may not have heard of them but your GP sounds helpful. Either way reducing the carbs will always help and perhaps make diagnosis easier. Meds will be offered if the right diet doesn't reduce blood sugar and some of these will be different between types as T2s often have excess natural insulin and insulin resistance whereas T1s will have inadequate insulin and the body will be starting to burn fat for energy as it can't burn the carbs easily. Hopefully your GP will be able to provide the diagnosis and whatever meds may be needed.

Hi there, no weight wasn't lost intentionally. Managing at present to reduce blood glucose by avoiding sugar and carbohydrates. Bloods that were done were HbA1C and LFT's and a serum blood glucose

 

[azure]

Hi there, no weight wasn't lost intentionally. Managing at present to reduce blood glucose by avoiding sugar and carbohydrates. Bloods that were done were HbA1C and LFT's and a serum blood glucose

Type 1 can come on more slowly in adults. Some people can avoid insulin initially, so don't rule out Type 1 because you don't fit a certain pattern. The unintentional weight loss is a possible sign of Type 1.

A GAD test can help determine if you're Type 1. It's often misdiagnosed as Type 2 in adults, so always keep the possibility in mind while you wait for a specialist appointment. Starting insulin sooner rather than later in slow inset Type 1s can preserve the remaining beta cell function for longer.

 

[nxybagr]

Type 1 can come on more slowly in adults. Some people can avoid insulin initially, so don't rule out Type 1 because you don't fit a certain pattern. The unintentional weight loss is a possible sign of Type 1.

A GAD test can help determine if you're Type 1. It's often misdiagnosed as Type 2 in adults, so always keep the possibility in mind while you wait for a specialist appointment. Starting insulin sooner rather than later in slow inset Type 1s can preserve the remaining beta cell function for longer.

I will mention this when I am seen by the consultant in a weeks time

 

[knowlestr]

Hi
I was in a similar situation, except that the clinic happily gave me a meter (for both BG and Ketone) then I got a spare from my local GP - again supported with prescription test strips and lancets. So I was, it seems, lucky in that respect.

I was diagnosed at the start of February as a diabetic, and they proceeded to treat as t2. Due to what I was presenting we pushed for GAD test, and that came back last week confirming T1 LADA.

I am not being given or put on an insulin course - they are going to wait until I need it. is that the best option or should I push to have Insulin? It looks, on the face of it, to make carb countin easier, and countering the effects with dosage, but I am not sure. I have asked if there are any courses that I can attend - was enrolled on XPERT but that was for T2 so I have been removed, I can't enrol on DAFNY or CHOICES (a local course apparently) as both require Insulin usage. Seems that there is nothing for T1LADA or that they are not telling me of it!

Richard

 

[db89]

Hi
I was in a similar situation, except that the clinic happily gave me a meter (for both BG and Ketone) then I got a spare from my local GP - again supported with prescription test strips and lancets. So I was, it seems, lucky in that respect.

I was diagnosed at the start of February as a diabetic, and they proceeded to treat as t2. Due to what I was presenting we pushed for GAD test, and that came back last week confirming T1 LADA.

I am not being given or put on an insulin course - they are going to wait until I need it. is that the best option or should I push to have Insulin? It looks, on the face of it, to make carb countin easier, and countering the effects with dosage, but I am not sure. I have asked if there are any courses that I can attend - was enrolled on XPERT but that was for T2 so I have been removed, I can't enrol on DAFNY or CHOICES (a local course apparently) as both require Insulin usage. Seems that there is nothing for T1LADA or that they are not telling me of it!

Richard

Hi @knowlestr are your blood glucose levels fairly well in control without insulin? From what I have read of LADA it can be fairly slow onset. If your feel your levels are too high maybe worth speaking with your DSN if you have one or your GP to see if you need to start insulin therapy?

If you'd like to gain some knowledge have you got the book Think Like A Pancreas? I see it recommended on here often and my DSN even suggested it to me at my last appointment (but I already had it by then ). You could also look at the BERTIE online course.

 

[Liam1955]

Hello @nxybagr and Welcome to the Forum .

 

[nxybagr]

So they decided I have type 2 but doing anti body testing and started me on metformin

 

[db89]

So they decided I have type 2 but doing anti body testing and started me on metformin

Are they also getting a c-peptide test done for you @nxybagr? I believe both are needed to give enough information to make a confident diagnosis. The antibody test alone doesn't confirm that you're not Type 1 if negative, it does confirm that you are if it's positive however.

 

[nxybagr]

They are doing a cpeptide test and done some more bloods today