Honeymoon Extension Evidence?
- Thread starter notria
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Hi Notria, I have no answers I'm afraid but I am very interested in the question. I have been diagnosed as a 'definite type 1' at the grand old age of 57. My Consultant refuses to call it LADA, just 'type 1' but I suspect at my age it is a late onset. I have been on very small doses of insulin for the last year, the Consultant says to keep that up as it **may** protect my beta cells, then again it may not! I have goggled the subject galore probably like yourself but cannot find any 'evidence' as such. Hope someone is able to assist. x
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Hello @notria I think you would be hard pushed to see any actual evidence as each person's pancreas is different and as far as I am aware it would be hard to document/research how this period can be prolonged under a set criteria of conditions. I was involved in C peptide research when I was first diagnosed and in the honeymoon phase, I met a Diabetes Specialist when I was down at Bristol hospital and his words were, the less stressed the pancreas is, the more likely it is to continue producing insulin so maintaining good blood glucose levels would help to extend this, he said it could last a few months or a few years and that was dependent on the individual.
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JDRF are involved in research in prolonging the function of beta cells: https://jdrf.org.uk/information-support/about-type-1-diabetes/what-is-the-honeymoon-phase/
I raise money for JDRF each year with a new challenge, personally I see it as a way of helping to bring the idea of a cure a little closer to reality.
I raise money for JDRF each year with a new challenge, personally I see it as a way of helping to bring the idea of a cure a little closer to reality.
Hi there, I was told mine were '75'. That was it, I have no idea of what it is measured in. A DN told me this number over the phone and she said 'most likely type 1 but it's not as high as we thought it would be'. When I saw the Consultant, he said 'this is high, you are type 1' and that was that!
Canvaspic
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I wonder if that was your HBA1c, in general your c-peptide would have been low ( e.g. below .35 nmol/l ) . Type 2s will generally have numbers above .88. So the fact that they were refering to HIGH numbers, may have been the blood glucose. Thanks for responding.
Hi there, sorry, I've given you duff information! The 75 related to my GAD antibodies!!! My C peptide level was 148pmo/l which they said was the low end of normal.
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Mine was 1.9 but I cant remember if it was fasting. A few months before that it was 2.1 after a big carby meal.
Gina G
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My son has been diagnosed type 1 in March this year, he is on no insulin just diet only normal BS readings everyday
Morning 3 rest of the day between 4-6
He has had gad test, the 1A2 test, a Cpeptide test all negative/normal
They did a N8T2 test which came back positive (zinc transporter) and said this test consistent with type 1
so have now said he is type 1, off you go carry on your great work, when asked about the no insulin
"your in the honeymoon stage "
Nothing's about which type 1 as we all no there is different types .....very frustrating
Morning 3 rest of the day between 4-6
He has had gad test, the 1A2 test, a Cpeptide test all negative/normal
They did a N8T2 test which came back positive (zinc transporter) and said this test consistent with type 1
so have now said he is type 1, off you go carry on your great work, when asked about the no insulin
"your in the honeymoon stage "
Nothing's about which type 1 as we all no there is different types .....very frustrating
NewTD2
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May I ask, if your son is diagnosed Type 1, isn't that he should have been given insulin straightaway?
I understand there is a honeymoon phase for Type 1.5 but apologies for the ignorance here but is there really such a thing as a 'honeymoon phase' for Type 1?
Gina G
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Hi NewTD2
Yes type 1 diagnosed back in late March this year, they said because of his age 30, slim build, fasting BG 17 and small amount of ketones in his blood...they have assumed type 1
He has only seen a diabetic specialist once back in May/June time, she checked his HbA1c normal reading she said "carry on the great work"
Then late June had his other tests done as above post ^^
Received his results last week, said "your test results are consistant with a type one diagnosis
So as of early April my son has NOT had any insulin or meds at all???
A few people I've spoken who are diabetic have suggested he could be type 1.5 ....very confused
Yes I've read up that it is type 1 you get the honeymoon period
Yes type 1 diagnosed back in late March this year, they said because of his age 30, slim build, fasting BG 17 and small amount of ketones in his blood...they have assumed type 1
He has only seen a diabetic specialist once back in May/June time, she checked his HbA1c normal reading she said "carry on the great work"
Then late June had his other tests done as above post ^^
Received his results last week, said "your test results are consistant with a type one diagnosis
So as of early April my son has NOT had any insulin or meds at all???
A few people I've spoken who are diabetic have suggested he could be type 1.5 ....very confused
Yes I've read up that it is type 1 you get the honeymoon period
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Hi. T1.5 is the same as T1 but is defined as T1 that comes on later in life. There will often be a honeymoon period and insulin will only be needed early on if blood sugar is too high despite a low-carb diet.
NewTD2
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I was on 14 units of insulin (lantus) but just for 13 days after I was diagnosed. On the 14th day, my blood glucose levels were reading 5s so I was taken off insulin. My current HBA1C is 39.
I was diagnosed 2 years ago as T1. But until the anti-GAD test came back as positive it was assumed to be T2 (this was about 2 months) Because of that I did a lot of research, reached the conclusion that I needed to go low-carb and made the change.
This change obviously helped my pancreas and 2 years on no insulin and a Hb1ac of 34. I’ve had my c-peptide done twice and both times it was normal, which is to be expected as my pancreas is still working and not under pressure.
I do take metformin as this helps a little with ensuring my body uses insulin effectively.
If I had continued to eat a normal carb diet then I would definitely need insulin.
Even when I do need insulin I won’t be changing my diet.
This change obviously helped my pancreas and 2 years on no insulin and a Hb1ac of 34. I’ve had my c-peptide done twice and both times it was normal, which is to be expected as my pancreas is still working and not under pressure.
I do take metformin as this helps a little with ensuring my body uses insulin effectively.
If I had continued to eat a normal carb diet then I would definitely need insulin.
Even when I do need insulin I won’t be changing my diet.
Alexandra100
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Here is Jenny Ruhl on the question:
"Because people with LADA often have mildly elevated blood sugar at first diagnosis, there is some debate about whether they should be started immediately on insulin. It was thought in the past that starting insulin treatment as early as possible might stop the autoimmune attack associated with LADA. But recent research investigating whether the use of early insulin can slow the development of classic autoimmune diabetes in children suggests it does not:
Nasal insulin to prevent type 1 diabetes in children with HLA genotypes and autoantibodies conferring increased risk of disease: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial. Näntö-Salonen K et al.Lancet. 2008 Nov 15;372(9651):1746-55. Epub 2008 Sep 22.
Still, there is a lot of evidence that starting insulin early in Type 2 can make control much easier in the future--and since LADA combines genetic feature of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, it is possible that some of the benefit seen in Type 2 may extend to people with LADA. If nothing else, starting insulin early may prevent a person from spending 3 to 5 years with the excessively high post-meal blood sugars that are known to kill beta cells even in the absence of autoimmune attack. So there seems to be no compelling reason for a person with LADA NOT to start insulin early."
You can read the rest of her article on LADA here: https://www.bloodsugar101.com/lada
I have type 1 diabetes and only use novorapid for meals. My honeymoon period has lasted 3 years so far.
It definitely protects the remaining cells do not come off insulin at any point!
It definitely protects the remaining cells do not come off insulin at any point!
Make sure he carries on using insulin. otherwise his honeymoon period wont last long at all.
Gina G
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Hi Jamesfitz, he has been to see specialist she has said he has to carry on as he doesn't need insulin at all
If they don't prescribe it he can't use it .....
He is coming up 6months now.
