I was hoping to keep this short but i couldn't - sorry. I hope some of you will take the time to read this and offer your knowledge.
I am looking for some answers before my diabetic nurse appointment soon. At the moment im taking no medication.
- I was originally diagnosed as Type 2. I went against advice of taking metformin (as type 2) as i wanted to control through diet. It was a struggle changing diets so I wasnt really successful - but it was also learning curve transitioning from my usual diet when i had no portion control or real idea of calories or macros i was consuming (I do now).
- then about 18 months later after I started losing weight they tested for antibodies and they said im type 1 - autoimmune / LADA. My GP referred me to hospital consultant.
- After i saw the consultant doctor he said i need to take insulin as GAD antibodies present. I said "no, not yet", again, I want to see if i can manage it with low carb. I know type 1 are deficient in insulin production and he was clear that i will need insulin. I just wanted to take a step back, assess, research for myself and get a grip on my diet before i committed to medication. So he setup a nurse appointment and asked me to keep records of tests 4 times a day and bring it (i have).
Q1 - If antibodies are present does that mean insulin production is partially or fully impaired forever? Is it a definitive diagnosis? I know there can be a honeymoon period.
Q2 - Should I ask for an insulin production test? Assumming they would agree (maybe not).
I have been managing my Type 1 with low carb for last 3-4 weeks and i have my appointment soon with the diabetic nurse to determine how much insulin i need to take. I have been recording my blood tests consistently for last 3 weeks - 6+ times a day as i wanted to see what was happening after meals and gym and walking.
- I have manageed to get my levels to between 5-7 outside of meal times. After a low'ish carb meal it usually doesnt go over 9.5-10.5 depending on what ive eaten. But usually in the 9's / under 9 after 2 hours of meal and then back under 7 after 3-4h and def under 7 at bedtime. So slow to return to normal range but it does get there.
- If I eat some extra sweet stuff/ high carb then it can get to 11's but again it drops back to under 7 by bedtime.
- im still tweaking my low carb diet and testing meals - im sure i can get it down alittle if im more consistent and limit / tweak some of the after meal 'dessert' choices. Im still learning and still fail sometimes. And the body will maybe adjust and insulin sensitivity might improve over time (3-12 months).
Q3 - With the mmol levels ive mentioned will they advise i take some amount of insulin? Would i be at risk of hypo if i took insulin with my current levels? Ive neve had a hypo episode even after fasting for 48 hours (water only) - mmol was 4.8 before breaking fast and eating. Plan to do 72h fast but because I needed to log mmol after meals for nurse I haven't done it yet.
Q4 - If yes, im thinking to delay taking insulin until early March (next consultant) appointment and then see what my HbA1c is nearer the time and if i managed to hone my low carb diet further. Im pretty sure ill be very clued up by then and i would guess my HbA1c will be close to normal... but that might not be good enough.
- I dont want to take insulin but i will ofcourse if i have too. I also want it to be the minimum it has to be. Seems i will have too unless i can get into a "honeymoon period range" for however many years that may last.
FYi, ive been supplementing some vitamins daily for 3 months+ (vitamins d, c, multivitamin, b vits, and magnesium etc - all basic levels) incase i had any deficiencies and exercising very progressively 4-5 times a week or every other day minimum (60-90 mins gym, cardio & resistance training) and walking. I feel pretty good and strong and no symptoms of any kind.
My weight is stable. I could lose a further 20-30lbs depending on muscle replacement weight - and thats my plan slowly over the next 2-3 months.
Q5 - There was a study i read about with rats that they said the islet cells had re-created. They fasted the rats for 4 days (very low calories / fasting mimicked) then they allowed them to eat normally for a period of time before doing another 4 days of fasting. They did 6-8 cycles of this. Ill try to find the link. Ofcourse its rats and its one study... Anyway, does any know of this study or any opinions?
Thats it for now. I would really appreciate any feedback. This is long and i know many people, me included, dont like reading long posts... hope it all makes sense. I re-read it and edit shortly if need be.
I am looking for some answers before my diabetic nurse appointment soon. At the moment im taking no medication.
- I was originally diagnosed as Type 2. I went against advice of taking metformin (as type 2) as i wanted to control through diet. It was a struggle changing diets so I wasnt really successful - but it was also learning curve transitioning from my usual diet when i had no portion control or real idea of calories or macros i was consuming (I do now).
- then about 18 months later after I started losing weight they tested for antibodies and they said im type 1 - autoimmune / LADA. My GP referred me to hospital consultant.
- After i saw the consultant doctor he said i need to take insulin as GAD antibodies present. I said "no, not yet", again, I want to see if i can manage it with low carb. I know type 1 are deficient in insulin production and he was clear that i will need insulin. I just wanted to take a step back, assess, research for myself and get a grip on my diet before i committed to medication. So he setup a nurse appointment and asked me to keep records of tests 4 times a day and bring it (i have).
Q1 - If antibodies are present does that mean insulin production is partially or fully impaired forever? Is it a definitive diagnosis? I know there can be a honeymoon period.
Q2 - Should I ask for an insulin production test? Assumming they would agree (maybe not).
I have been managing my Type 1 with low carb for last 3-4 weeks and i have my appointment soon with the diabetic nurse to determine how much insulin i need to take. I have been recording my blood tests consistently for last 3 weeks - 6+ times a day as i wanted to see what was happening after meals and gym and walking.
- I have manageed to get my levels to between 5-7 outside of meal times. After a low'ish carb meal it usually doesnt go over 9.5-10.5 depending on what ive eaten. But usually in the 9's / under 9 after 2 hours of meal and then back under 7 after 3-4h and def under 7 at bedtime. So slow to return to normal range but it does get there.
- If I eat some extra sweet stuff/ high carb then it can get to 11's but again it drops back to under 7 by bedtime.
- im still tweaking my low carb diet and testing meals - im sure i can get it down alittle if im more consistent and limit / tweak some of the after meal 'dessert' choices. Im still learning and still fail sometimes. And the body will maybe adjust and insulin sensitivity might improve over time (3-12 months).
Q3 - With the mmol levels ive mentioned will they advise i take some amount of insulin? Would i be at risk of hypo if i took insulin with my current levels? Ive neve had a hypo episode even after fasting for 48 hours (water only) - mmol was 4.8 before breaking fast and eating. Plan to do 72h fast but because I needed to log mmol after meals for nurse I haven't done it yet.
Q4 - If yes, im thinking to delay taking insulin until early March (next consultant) appointment and then see what my HbA1c is nearer the time and if i managed to hone my low carb diet further. Im pretty sure ill be very clued up by then and i would guess my HbA1c will be close to normal... but that might not be good enough.
- I dont want to take insulin but i will ofcourse if i have too. I also want it to be the minimum it has to be. Seems i will have too unless i can get into a "honeymoon period range" for however many years that may last.
FYi, ive been supplementing some vitamins daily for 3 months+ (vitamins d, c, multivitamin, b vits, and magnesium etc - all basic levels) incase i had any deficiencies and exercising very progressively 4-5 times a week or every other day minimum (60-90 mins gym, cardio & resistance training) and walking. I feel pretty good and strong and no symptoms of any kind.
My weight is stable. I could lose a further 20-30lbs depending on muscle replacement weight - and thats my plan slowly over the next 2-3 months.
Q5 - There was a study i read about with rats that they said the islet cells had re-created. They fasted the rats for 4 days (very low calories / fasting mimicked) then they allowed them to eat normally for a period of time before doing another 4 days of fasting. They did 6-8 cycles of this. Ill try to find the link. Ofcourse its rats and its one study... Anyway, does any know of this study or any opinions?
Thats it for now. I would really appreciate any feedback. This is long and i know many people, me included, dont like reading long posts... hope it all makes sense. I re-read it and edit shortly if need be.
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