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Types ?

Fox1001

Fox1001

Active Member
Messages
36
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I have heard that once you are told you are a type 2 diabetic, you remain in that category throughout, even if your circumstances change, I did think that being type 1 would mean insulin dependent, is this correct.
 
There are many types under the diabetes umbrella.
There are many types of metabolic conditions.
There are many different endocrine conditions.
There are quite a few that have diabetes and other endocrine conditions.

That's why when we are referred, we go to an endocrinologist, not a diabetic specialist.

Diabetes is so individual, that they use the labels to distinguish generally.

That's why a proper diagnosis is so important!
 
Fox1001 said:
I have heard that once you are told you are a type 2 diabetic, you remain in that category throughout, even if your circumstances change, I did think that being type 1 would mean insulin dependent, is this correct.
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Yes, unless you were misdiagnosed you stay a Type 2 however your diabetes is treated. If a Type 2 needs to take insulin, they are a 'Type 2 on Insulin' (there's a subsection of the Type 2 forum for this).
 
Type 1 is autoimmune and is insulin dependant
Type 1.5 is also autoimmune but is often slow onset and usually in adults and will eventually be insulin dependent
Type 2 is insulin resistant and often hyperinsulinemic. Eventually the high insulin levels can burn out the beta cells and insulin will be required but this does not happen in all cases.
Type 3c is from physical damage to or removal of the pancreas from injury or illness and is insulin dependent

This is very simplified and there are other conditions such as reactive hypoglycemia and various genetic inherited types.
 
There is a way to determine what type you are and that is by having two tests for specific antibodies. If there are these antibodies you are Type 1.
 
asparagusp said:
There is a way to determine what type you are and that is by having two tests for specific antibodies. If there are these antibodies you are Type 1.
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Not many T2s or those misdiagnosed because of lack of tests don't get the necessary tests!
 
I'm an example of what you're wondering about.... I'm T2 with insulin deficiency. My only option for treatment is insulin therapy which I'm on both Apidra for bolus and Lantus for basal.

Just because I became insulin deficient, doesn't make me a T1 now. My GAD tests I've had have all come back showing I don't have antibodies destroying my insulin production. Mine would've been destroyed by insulin resistance over the years I've had diabetes.

Although some T2's are put on insulin when their docs want them to get good control and they still have sufficient insulin being produced. At that stage they have that choice to come off it if they get the good control.
 
This is a very knowledgeable forum, and I'm learning so much about my condition, I think the medical services are quick enough to diagnose you, but then extremely slow in telling you how to maintain a quality of life, the NHS not as joined up as we Brits like to think, having had a major life threatening illness, I was being treated for that but not my diabetes, the nurse said if I had any underlying conditions I would have died, when I asked what do you mean, she said things like diabetes, hmmm.
 
Fox1001 said:
This is a very knowledgeable forum, and I'm learning so much about my condition, I think the medical services are quick enough to diagnose you, but then extremely slow in telling you how to maintain a quality of life, the NHS not as joined up as we Brits like to think, having had a major life threatening illness, I was being treated for that but not my diabetes, the nurse said if I had any underlying conditions I would have died, when I asked what do you mean, she said things like diabetes, hmmm.
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Yeh that's a worry :o diabetes in itself is a serious condition and can be life threatening as well. I wish there were forums like this about when I was diagnosed years ago... but I didn't have that. Thankful for the internet for forums and support groups for illnesses.... I'd be feeling like a fish out of water if I didn't join forums like this. No one in my real life has much of a clue about most of the stuff I have to deal with. Although I guess diabetes is getting more attention than it used to lately.
 
Hi Mep, it's true about society's take on diabetes, if I'm feeling rough or fatigued ( my sugar levels not right ) I have been given advice ranging from pull yourself together, or you may have a virus coming, or even a hangover, non diabetics need a little schooling if they live with someone who has this crazy illness that seems to push through boundaries.
 
Fox1001 said:
Hi Mep, it's true about society's take on diabetes, if I'm feeling rough or fatigued ( my sugar levels not right ) I have been given advice ranging from pull yourself together, or you may have a virus coming, or even a hangover, non diabetics need a little schooling if they live with someone who has this crazy illness that seems to push through boundaries.
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Yes, what they don't realise is that a simple cold or virus messes with our sugar levels which then in turn puts us at high risk of complications from the viruses such as infections. And they wonder why I get mad when they come too close with a cold. lol. I still have the issue of people unable to identify when I'm having a hypo. I guess the only way they'd tell is if I became unconscious. I can count on one hand how many people have noticed in the past... .one was because my speech was slurred. I think the other problem we have is people just are used to seeing drunks about, etc.... so they never think to ask "are you ok?"... with me they just think I'm always ok. Even the other day when my work called an ambulance on me it was only because the first aid officer finally checked my pulse and realised I really wasn't well. Everyone else I think thought I was fine as I was still up and walking backwards and forwards to the toilet (no option there when spasms hit).
 
Couldn't agree more, I was in a pub once, felt very unstable hadn't drunk much (honest), and got up to go toilet and found myself on the floor people around me, semi conscious all I could hear was make sure he doesn't swallow his tongue??? and he needs sugar get some sweets in his mouth, had just enough energy to avoid that, came round dazed and confused (Led Zep), and was taken home and told I was barred, assumption I had drunk too much, just madness, and lack of basic knowledge.
 
Although antibody tests are not routine, you can always ask the doctor/specialist for them. In my case I am slim and it's been difficult achieving control of my condition over the last 15 years with Type 2 medication.
 
asparagusp said:
Although antibody tests are not routine, you can always ask the doctor/specialist for them. In my case I am slim and it's been difficult achieving control of my condition over the last 15 years with Type 2 medication.
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Are you still having difficulty? If so, have you had the GAD test and c-peptide test done recently? I had diabetes for 12 years before I insisted medications weren't working and I needed them to test me again. I'm glad I insisted as turns out I'm insulin deficient. The meds don't work for that unfortunately, and that's when I was put on insulin therapy.
 
I was only tested a couple of months ago and both results were negative. Just in case there had been a mistake, I repeated the tests in France whilst on holiday, a few weeks later. They too were negative.
 
asparagusp said:
Although antibody tests are not routine, you can always ask the doctor/specialist for them. In my case I am slim and it's been difficult achieving control of my condition over the last 15 years with Type 2 medication.
Click to expand...
Hi. You may find the c-peptide test is more useful as it does show the state of your insulin production. GAD tests may show negative even though you have poor insulin production thru causes other than antibodies. If you are slim like me with a low c-peptide then you are likely to be Late onset T1 and not T2.
 
The conclusion reached two months ago was I wasn't late onset type 1/1.5. So I assume my c peptide wasn't low but I'll check and come back here tomorrow with an update!

Difficult surely to determine how much insulin I am producing as I am injecting myself!
 
c-peptide will tell how much insulin you are making and injected insulin does not affect the results. It is measuring a byproduct of insulin production and not the insulin itself.
 
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