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What am I ? T1 or T2

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Ben314v

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Hi just seen the doc for bad back and he ask me to have some blood taken, come back @ 16 so he said I have T2 so I'm have to take 2x 500 metformin hydrochloride. I have been taking blood level for a week and it tells me an average of 14.7 is this good ? Also can anyone help me with headaches bed seems to help but head still there. From what I've read am I T1 because off the readings maybe. Thanks in advance
 
T1 or t2 will give you high readings. I am afraid that 14 is high, far too high. Normal is between 4 and 8 or there abouts - very simplified. As for the headaches, I am afraid to say it is because of glucose levels
 
You should see your doctor again and ask for a GAD test. This could help determine whether you are T1.

I was first diagnosed as T2 and then as T1, based on the GAD test and I was then instantly switched to insulin from Metformin.

I would agree that the readings you report are a bit higher than what one should aim for.
 
Hi. A blood sugar of 14 could be either T1 or T2. A strong pointer to which one is your weight. Can you let us know your BMI/weight. If overweight T2 is the most likely and the Metformin will help reduce insulin resistance. If you are slim and/or have lost weight unexpectedly recently then Late onset T1 is more likely. Yes, the GAD test and c-peptide tests will help but many GPs won't do them or have never heard of them. Yes, headaches can be caused by high blood suagr but even when I had readings in the 20s I didn't suffer headaches.
 
Daibell said:
Hi. A blood sugar of 14 could be either T1 or T2. A strong pointer to which one is your weight. Can you let us know your BMI/weight. If overweight T2 is the most likely and the Metformin will help reduce insulin resistance. If you are slim and/or have lost weight unexpectedly recently then Late onset T1 is more likely. Yes, the GAD test and c-peptide tests will help but many GPs won't do them or have never heard of them. Yes, headaches can be caused by high blood suagr but even when I had readings in the 20s I didn't suffer headaches.
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I'm not sure the weight thing equates, my MIL is very very thin and has type 2 (and severe neuropathy), I on the other hand am overweight and have type 1. I am pretty sure she has type 2 she eats more carefully and has a great HbA1c, I on the other hand am definitely type 1 as proved by the massive amounts of antibodies found at my diagnosis and high ketones and requirement for insulin after 3 months honeymoon.
 
fairylights said:
I'm not sure the weight thing equates, my MIL is very very thin and has type 2 (and severe neuropathy), I on the other hand am overweight and have type 1. I am pretty sure she has type 2 she eats more carefully and has a great HbA1c, I on the other hand am definitely type 1 as proved by the massive amounts of antibodies found at my diagnosis and high ketones and requirement for insulin after 3 months honeymoon.
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I am generalising but even NICE now tells GPs to assume the possibility of T1 when a thin person presents. Has your MIL been tested for GAD or had a c-peptide test to eliminate T1; T2 is assumed by default by GPs often without any tests? Were you over weight when originally diagnosed as a T1 although I realise that could have been a long time ago?
 
Daibell said:
I am generalising but even NICE now tells GPs to assume the possibility of T1 when a thin person presents. Has your MIL been tested for GAD or had a c-peptide test to eliminate T1; T2 is assumed by default by GPs often without any tests? Were you over weight when originally diagnosed as a T1 although I realise that could have been a long time ago?
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The wording in your first post is accurate. You made no mention that that is ALWAYS the case, and of course there are exceptions.

It is incredibly difficult to gain weight with undiagnosed type 1. Prior to my diagnosis, I was eating as much as 5000 calories a day and still losing weight.
 
TorqPenderloin said:
The wording in your first post is accurate. You made no mention that that is ALWAYS the case, and of course there are exceptions.

It is incredibly difficult to gain weight with undiagnosed type 1. Prior to my diagnosis, I was eating as much as 5000 calories a day and still losing weight.
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This is why undiagnosed T1 can be so dangerous, of course, as the body starts burning fat (ketosis) to get some energy the blood sugar is high and ketoacidosis starts which can be a killer. I was pleased to see NICE add this point about being slim at diagnosis. My stupid diabetes GP told me to carry on losing weight when I presented as stick thin at diagnosis (and he weighed me) because he just assumed I was an overweight T2 without even looking.
 
I don't think my MIL is type 1 although she has not been tested. I know quite a few others that have been diagnosed with type 2 that are slim and seem to manage okay on diet alone.
I guess I was lucky, I did lose weight at diagnosis but I was still overweight at this time (May 2012) and my GP sent me straight to the hospital diabetes clinic, where I immediately had gad and c-peptide tests and was diagnosed with type 1 when the results came back.
 
I agree with the others that you need to have the GAD and c-peptide tests done to diagnose what type of diabetes you have. Having a GP just do a hbA1c test on you does nothing but tell them what your average sugar levels have been for the past 60 days. Yes it can indicate you have diabetes, but as to what type that requires the other 2 tests. Here those tests are requested by endocrinologists. I'm not sure if your GP can request them where you are? It may be you have to see a different doc. Even after the results of the GAD & c-peptide you need to monitor things because it could be that in a few years you suddenly develop antibodies for example which means you have type 1.5 and not type 2. Type 1.5 is often misdiagnosed as type 2 at first because antibodies don't present straight away. Also if you're definitely type 2 and things aren't working out it could be that you have beta cell damage and you need insulin... again ask for the diagnostic tests to be redone. That's what happened with me and as a result I found out I have to be on full time insulin therapy. I wish you the best.
 
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