Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Type 1
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 38 and, while the late onslaught was remarked upon, nothing else was done. Until six years later, when I was diagnosed with haemochromatosis (an iron overload) and was told it was likely my diabetes was caused by haemochromatosis. Following that diagnosis, it was decided to downgrade my type 1 diabetes as it appears my pancreas continues to produce a tiny amount of insulin. Now, I have neither type 1 or 2, diabetes but diabetes, caused by haemochromatosis. This is simply words, I'm insulin dependent and am prone to hypos. So what kind of diabetes is it?
 
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Liam1955

Master
Messages
10,964
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Anti-Gay People, Self Centre People, Two Faced People and Bad Language.
@hannibalthehat - Hello and Welcome to the Forum. I will tag @daisy1 who will provide you with some basic information that all new members receive.
 
C

catherinecherub

Guest
Hi @hannibalthehat and welcome to the forum.

You can have a posh title, Bronze Diabetes.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/hemochromatotis-bronze-diabetes.html

This article suggest that you could be classed as Type1.5, (LADA).
http://www.diapedia.org/other-types-of-diabetes-mellitus/41040851478/haemochromatosis

Haemochromatosis and Diabetes
The prevalence of diabetes in hereditary haemochromatosis has been estimated at between 20-50%; the prevalence appears to be falling as genetic testing becomes more widely available and the diagnosis is increasingly made before substantial pancreatic damage has occurred.

Conversely, several studies have examined the prevalence of the HFE gene in people with diabetes, with inconsistent results. This may reflect the incomplete penetrance of the gene and the high frequency of diabetes in the populations tested. In consequence, routine genetic screening is not formally recommended in diabetes[5].

Although haemochromatosis is most commonly confused with type 2 diabetes, it may also masquerade as late onset type 1. A Danish study found 9 cases among 716 patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes over the age of 30 (1.26%) vs 23 cases among 9146 population controls (0.25%)[6]

The pathophysiology of diabetes in hereditary hemochromatosis is considered to originate in beta cell dysfunction and decreased insulin secretory capacity rather than increased insulin resistance, and patients tend to be insulin-dependent; insulin requirements often fall during venesection but the need for insulin persists.

Although haemochromatosis is often listed among the causes of chronic pancreatitis, there have been few studies of exocrine function in this condition, and malabsorption does not form part of the clinical spectrum.

Summary
Susceptibility to hereditary haemochromatosis is common in European populations, but the fully expressed clinical syndrome has become increasingly rare due to greater awareness and access to genetic testing. Diabetes tends to be irreversible, generally requires insulin, but is often relatively easy to control. Early diagnosis can prevent or limit end-organ damage, and clinicians should always be alert to this diagnosis in people with diabetes.
 
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daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@hannibalthehat

Hello and welcome to the forum :) As mentioned above, here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find over 150,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

LOW CARB PROGRAM:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/low carb program


Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
 

peter_s

Active Member
Messages
33
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
There are a number of U.S research papers on the topic of Haemochromatosis and Diabetes. One suggestion is that the iron blocks the action of chromium in the transport of insulin. It really is a different form of diabetes, and is said to be "therapy resistant", i.e. not as easy to treat as suggested here.
 
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Freema

Expert
Messages
7,346
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 38 and, while the late onslaught was remarked upon, nothing else was done. Until six years later, when I was diagnosed with haemochromatosis (an iron overload) and was told it was likely my diabetes was caused by haemochromatosis. Following that diagnosis, it was decided to downgrade my type 1 diabetes as it appears my pancreas continues to produce a tiny amount of insulin. Now, I have neither type 1 or 2, diabetes but diabetes, caused by haemochromatosis. This is simply words, I'm insulin dependent and am prone to hypos. So what kind of diabetes is it?

that is weird... never heard of it... my iron is usually also very high..but at the moment not too high.... but i have type 2.... .....
how high is your iron....? out of interest...
 
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Freema

Expert
Messages
7,346
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
should one then eat less read meat ... and add a lot of chromium ?

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Haemochromatosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx :
Haemochromatosis responds well to treatment, which aims to remove excess iron from the body.

The usual treatment is quite simple. Blood is removed from the body on a regular basis – about the same amount taken in a blood donation, around 500ml (roughly a pint).

This leads to an overall drop in iron levels.

For people unable to use phlebotomy for medical reasons, a medication called deferasirox can be used as an alternative. This is known as chelation therapy.

avoid taking iron supplements and eating foods fortified with iron, such as breakfast cereals
  • reduce the amount of vitamin C you consume, as this increases absorption of iron and helps it deposit in some organs
  • avoid drinking too much alcohol, especially with meals, as this can increase iron absorption and cause liver disease – if you do have some degree of liver disease you may be advised to avoid alcohol completely
Who is affected
Haemochromatosis is uncommon in general terms, although it's one of the most common genetic (inherited) conditions in England.

As many as one person in 200 may be affected.

Symptoms usually start in adults between the ages of 30-50. Symptoms in women are often delayed because their iron levels are reduced when they have a period.

Haemochromatosis is most common in people of white European ethnic background – particularly people of Irish descent.
 
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