Newly diagnosed LADA

SarahRuth

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Thanks Ian. Any idea about the C Peptide results? I've tried looking it up but can't find anything online. Like u say I think that diet has a huge roll to play and I've managed to bring my HBA1C down to what the consultant described as a normal range quite easily by cutting out rubbish and controlling carbs.
 
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Ian DP

Well-Known Member
Messages
712
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Chips
My consultant won't do a c-peptide test, says it is a waste of time (any money!), as I am obviously making some insulin... So no idea.
 

SarahRuth

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Ah ok. Maybe it's not really that important then. Feel much more settled than I did when I first wrote this post and it's lovely to meet other people and not feel so alone!
 

Cliff3

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi Fido,
Well this is what my brother says too. He says that long term I will be on insulin anyway and that it will be the best way to get good control.
I guess I'm just a little anxious about whether it will be very disruptive to my lifestyle at first? I have a 6 year old little girl and I work full time so life is pretty hectic. I guess eventually it just fits in?
At the minute they are saying that I have "gold standard" control so insulin isn't needed but I guess it is the best thing to do when the time is right.
The thing which concerns me about the LCHF diet is ketosis, is this not similar to the Atkins diet and what does it do to cholesterol?
Sorry for all the questions!

I was diagnosed with LADA just over two years ago (I'm 55 now) and was started on insulin (four times per day) immediately. It just needs a bit of a routine but is worth it I think to know that I'm keeping my blood sugar under good control. The only thing that's slightly inconvenient for me is having to follow the rules about extra blood testing when driving.

More generally, I've found that exercise (I cycle a lot) has a big impact on the amount of insulin that I need: testing my blood at least four times per day enables me to make adjustments to my insulin as required.

So, for me I had no 'honeymoon period' without insulin and so I've just had to get into the routine: it's worth it for the peace of mind I think!

Good luck Sarah Ruth.


Cliff
 

Cliff3

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
I was diagnosed with LADA just over two years ago (I'm 55 now) and was started on insulin (four times per day) immediately. It just needs a bit of a routine but is worth it I think to know that I'm keeping my blood sugar under good control. The only thing that's slightly inconvenient for me is having to follow the rules about extra blood testing when driving.

More generally, I've found that exercise (I cycle a lot) has a big impact on the amount of insulin that I need: testing my blood at least four times per day enables me to make adjustments to my insulin as required.

So, for me I had no 'honeymoon period' without insulin and so I've just had to get into the routine: it's worth it for the peace of mind I think!

Good luck Sarah Ruth.


Cliff
I forgot to say: I just follow a normal (healthy) diet. Of course, as well as keeping blood sugar under control, it's also important to have low-ish:
1) Weight;
2) Blood pressure;
3) Cholesterol;
4) Stress.

So, I wouldn't bother with 'faddy' diets!


Cliff
 

Cliff3

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi Sarah,

I too want to say, Don't be scared of insulin. You could last for a long time without it, but it would make your eventual diabetes worse by burning out your insulin function. My decision was to conserve that by starting on insulin. As a result my BGs have got no worse and sometimes, when I'm good, even improves.

This is what I'd recommend based on my own experience:

I think it's better to start with insulin now rather than pussyfoot around with other drugs, because only insulin will arrest/reverse the decline and ensure that you can keep your daily insulin dose low into the long term, perhaps even permanently. That’s important, because insulin should be kept as low as possible, for two reasons: 1) you will preserve your residual basal insulin capacity and this means you will have enviably stable BG levels and will avoid the horrible lows that full T1s undergo; 2) low levels of insulin (i.e. insulin sensitivity) is associated with longer life expectancy. No other drugs can prevent diabetes progressing and keep insulin needs low, except possibly metformin, which can be taken alongside insulin for Type 1s and is an incredibly benign drug with other protective effects, if your stomach can tolerate it. I would agitate strongly to avoid any other kind of drug like sitagliptin etc: they may stimulate the pancreas, but will also burn it out quicker.

Your consultant may suggest one of these three alternatives.

1) Basal insulin only. I tried this; for me it was a waste of time, because the issue with me was post-meal spikes. I was incredibly good, ate less and less, exercised more and got more and more miserable, and my BG levels just continued to rise slowly. Once I took bolus, end of problem. My fasting levels went right down again.

2) Mixed insulin, on the grounds that you are new to all this and you need something simple. Here you are given a 70:30 mix of basal and bolus insulin, and you have to take it twice a day and match your meals to it. You may like this; I wouldn’t. It’s rigid, and you will have to eat to your insulin.

3) Full basal/bolus (or MDI, multiple daily injections). This is what I would recommend. Contrary to what you might think, it’s not difficult. Usually you have two basal injections (night and morning), or sometimes one only. Then you inject bolus 30 mins before each meal. You have to carb count for this. No problem – we are adults and this can be quickly learnt. I use the Carbs & Cals app, and you’ll need to weigh stuff for the first few weeks. Then you’ll know it.

Lucy.


I also found the 'Carbs & Cals' book and app very helpful to begin with. I'm lucky in that my body reacts (at least for now!) very predictably to specific quantities of carbs and insulin, so two years after diagnosis I don't need to look things up any more. I find that taking a 'basal' dose of insulin at night and then topping it up with fast-acting insulin just before meals (once I know how many carbs I'll be having with that meal) works well for me: it gives me the flexibility to eat what and when I want safely. I just make sure that I don't snack between meals. In any case I tend to avoid mega-carb things such as beer and biscuits - which is probably sensible anyway!

Cliff
 

Cliff3

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
I also found the 'Carbs & Cals' book and app very helpful to begin with. I'm lucky in that my body reacts (at least for now!) very predictably to specific quantities of carbs and insulin, so two years after diagnosis I don't need to look things up any more. I find that taking a 'basal' dose of insulin at night and then topping it up with fast-acting insulin just before meals (once I know how many carbs I'll be having with that meal) works well for me: it gives me the flexibility to eat what and when I want safely. I just make sure that I don't snack between meals. In any case I tend to avoid mega-carb things such as beer and biscuits - which is probably sensible anyway!

Cliff


I'm a Clinical Psychologist by background (although not working with people with diabetes) and so I've aimed to apply what I know about lifestyle change to myself over the two years since I was diagnosed with LADA (and started on insulin immediately).

I'm 55 now and I guess that, for me to live for another 25 years or so, it's vital to keep my blood sugar under good control. That means that I need routines and diets that work for me in the long-term, rather than regimes that are too hard to keep going year after year. So, I'd advise anyone to be a 'good enough' diabetes patient - rather than a 'perfect' one!

Best wishes.


Cliff
 

enzina

Well-Known Member
Messages
289
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
pain, being dependent, egoistic people & jealousy
@Cliff3 Hiya, you have posted four times in a row on a thread older than three years. Are you aware of that?
 

CERN

Newbie
Messages
2
Hi - I was diagnosed with T2 in December 2017 and prescribed Metformin (once daily with breakfast). In September 2018 I was invited to participate in a research programme run by the Royal Devon and Exeter Trust. I had lots of blood tests and a urine test. I was sent some results and advice to see my GP. My GAD was 2001. My GP has said he will not be monitoring me and said that there is opinion that there are 6 types of diabetes. I am not happy to have been dismissed. I have pernicious anaemia which is an autoimmune condition (diagnosed 34 years ago) so I am wondering whether I could have LADA and so need to be monitored regularly and/or have a T1 or T1.5 diagnosis.
 

Ian DP

Well-Known Member
Messages
712
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Chips
Hi CERN
I diagnosed was T2, then GAD test, and was over 2000. I was immediately transferred from my local surgery to my local hospital. The NHS seem to have T2s reviewed by local GP practice and T1s at their main hospital, so my guess is your Gp will advise your local hospital and then you should get an appointment with them very shortly. The NHS will likely class you as a T1, possibly in the honeymoon period. they only seem to class diabetics as T1 or T2
 
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CERN

Newbie
Messages
2
Hi Ian DP - thanks for that. My problem is that I am now having to go back to the GP to persuade him that I may have T1 or T1.5. Remember he dismissed me. So, I have decided to make an appointment to see the head honcho and take with me some articles I have collected from the internet incl some info from the NHS Highland site. There is nothing on the NHS England site incidentally about LADA. I feel I have been neglected so far and don't relish the thought of having to fight my corner so to speak. If necessary I will ask him to refer me privately to a specialist - but I don't thnk I should have to do that! Thanks for your help.