Hi
@Carl W. When I was diagnosed (3 years ago) the tests showed that I was producing insulin ('the lower end of normal'), the antibody test (GAD) was positive so they said type 1. They did not seem to recognise LADA/1.5 and when I asked (because I was in my 50s) they said we class it all as type 1. I was sent home from hospital (was admitted with very high glucose levels & ketones) with insulin and used very small amounts. Over the next few months I had several hypo's and they said stop the insulin for a month to see what happens. What happened was that the only way I could keep the levels low was to eat very low carb. That's all very well but I found it restrictive and wondered why I had to swap what was a low to medium carb diet to one I didn't like. I discussed it with the Consultant and he said continue with your insulin then, the basal was around 6 units a day (a tiny amount) and then if I had a higher carb meal I could supplement it with bolus (again my meals were fairly low carb anyway but this gave me the freedom to be able to use insulin if I had a higher carb meal).
The Consultant also said that using small amounts of insulin would actually give my remaining beta cells a rest and prolong my working pancreas as it were. He said keep an eye on levels because eventually they would rise but this could take months or several years.
So, here I am now, still using small amounts of insulin so I assume I'm still producing some, still on a lowish carb diet but sometimes having a blow out for which I can use insulin, and using 1/2 units for some meals which helps me keep my levels low WITHOUT severely restricting my 'lifestyle'.
I have found the Consultants are very receptive to YOUR wishes, ask them the question, tell them you are having to restrict your diet more than you want in order to maintain lower levels, maybe as others have said, eat a higher carb diet for a few days and test to see what your glucose levels do in response to that. There is no 'one way' approach but personally, I find having my insulin available to me is perfect. x