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Type 1 or 2

LittleMark

LittleMark

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
I am 31 years old and I was unexpectedly hospitalised in Poland in April after visiting the GP with an unrelated minor issue, as the hospital was private and my employer was funding I was given tests and scans galore and within an hr I was diagnosed as Type 1/LADA and placed on Lantus and Novorapid. Prior to this I had no major health issues and maintained a reasonable weight and healthy lifestyle. After being reviewed by doctors in the UK I was placed on metformin tables, 1000mg per day and 10 units of Lantus. Novorapid is also used for high carb meals. Overall I have an average reading between 7-8 but increasingly I am getting numbers in excess of 9 and 10. The U.K doctors say they are 80% sure I am T2 after tests showed clear bloods with no antibodies.

As I'm now getting high spikes more often I am at a loss as to whether I am T1, 2 or LADA!! Does metformin work only for T2 or will it work in conjunction with the Insulin if T1? I am not due to be seen again until January 2016 so really feel in limbo and very frustrated
 
LittleMark said:
I am 31 years old and I was unexpectedly hospitalised in Poland in April after visiting the GP with an unrelated minor issue, as the hospital was private and my employer was funding I was given tests and scans galore and within an hr I was diagnosed as Type 1/LADA and placed on Lantus and Novorapid. Prior to this I had no major health issues and maintained a reasonable weight and healthy lifestyle. After being reviewed by doctors in the UK I was placed on metformin tables, 1000mg per day and 10 units of Lantus. Novorapid is also used for high carb meals. Overall I have an average reading between 7-8 but increasingly I am getting numbers in excess of 9 and 10. The U.K doctors say they are 80% sure I am T2 after tests showed clear bloods with no antibodies.

As I'm now getting high spikes more often I am at a loss as to whether I am T1, 2 or LADA!! Does metformin work only for T2 or will it work in conjunction with the Insulin if T1? I am not due to be seen again until January 2016 so really feel in limbo and very frustrated
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I would proceed on the basis that you are T1 or LADA, and therefore you should be allowed to see a specialist more often than having to wait until January. They need to be available to help you when needed.

Metformin treats insulin resistance so it is used in both T1 and T2.

The antibody tests may not be conclusive so I wouldn't place too much store in an 80% belief from the doctors. They need to become more accurate than that IMO.

@Daibell will probably have some good suggestions for you.
 
Ive been Diabetic since 1972 and had my FIRST GAD test in July, got the letter back off the Hospital but I dunno what it means, but back there on Monday so I,m sure they will say then but I know I,m type 1
 
Hi and welcome. First the GAD test isn't conclusive and there are other causes of dying beta cells than GAD anti-bodies. The c-peptide test is the more useful test as it tells you whether you have too little insulin (T1) or too much (T2). Metformin is of most use if you have insulin resistance due to stored fat. It has a much smaller effect in that it reduces the liver's output of glucose a little so if a T1 then it means you take slightly less insulin and does help if you are an overweight T1. I've been on 2000mg of Metformin for 8 years and stayed on it when I went onto insulin 2 years ago. I agreed with my DN to reduce it to 1000mg this year and I've increased my Basal form 11 to 12 units to keep the same fasting sugar if that's any guide. Many GPs and the establishment dump people into 'T2' if they can't prove T1 thru GAD and sadly then you get treated as an overwieght T2 like I did even though slim. So, ask for a c-peptide test (it works even when you are on insulin) and anyway if you need insulin you need insulin - simple. If you are getting spikes then it may imply you are not getting the Novorapid ratio right. I assume you are carb-counting. The next HBa1C will be useful guide for you.
 
Hi @LittleMark you could be lada type 1 and in the honeymoon period where your body is still producing some of its own insulin. That could account for you erratic blood sugars! You DSN should be taking you through this period, so perhaps you should go back and see them. Sue x
 
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