nhope57

In March 2005, aged 48, I returned from working in West Africa and felt completely exhausted. My ex-wife persuaded me to visit the doctor who took all the obligatory blood tests.

Once the blood test results came back the doctor informed me that I had developed Type 2 diabetes and prescribed a course of tablets including Aspirin, Metformin and Atorvastatin.

This oral treatment continued for 10 years until May 2015 when I had a heart attack which needed an angioplasty. I remained in the hospital for a few days until I was released.

Within days of my release from the hospital, I still feel tired and lethargic and lapsed into unconsciousness. Seemingly my breathing had changed into deep, almost sighing breaths. An ambulance was called and after about 30 minutes of treatment in the ambulance, I was again transported with blue-lights to hospital.

After tests were carried out it appeared I had developed diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). For the next three days, I was in a comma within the Intensive Care Unit where my treatment and eventual recovery was undertaken. I have the doctors and nursing staff to thank for my continued life.

My diabetic status was checked and it appears that I was potentially misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes and have a form of type 1 diabetes known as Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA), sometimes referred to as Type 1.5.

LADA is diagnosed during adulthood as are most cases of type 2 diabetes. LADA also has a slow onset, like type 2 diabetes. However, LADA is an autoimmune disease like type 1 diabetes and requires insulin therapy.

I now take NovoRapid three times each day, preferably before meals and Lantus prior to bed; quantity is dependent on blood testing. Living outside of the UK now can and does cause problems but nothing that can't be overcome.