Does anyone else struggle with the terms Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?
I am a Biomedical Scientist and have worked in the NHS for 40 years as a microbiologist.
Last July a month before my 60th birthdaday I was diagnosed Type 1 diabetic (1.5 LADA).
Like most healthcare professionals I immediatly thought they meant Type 2 because of my age.
Since then I have been on a steep learning curve which is easy for me because I know where to look and get information. However I'm sure it must be very scary for people who are not in my position.
One thing I have found is the term 'diabetes' is well known (sugar in the blood) but not what Type 1 and Type 2 mean. As terms they are not very meaninful and I find I am contantly explaining the difference even to some of my collegues.
Does anyone have a better way of describing these different diseases?
How about 'aDiabetes' for autoimmune Type 1 diabetes and 'mDiabetes' for metabolic Type 2 diabetes?
After all we don't say you have the disease 'sneezing' but you have a cold, flu or an allergy.
I am a Biomedical Scientist and have worked in the NHS for 40 years as a microbiologist.
Last July a month before my 60th birthdaday I was diagnosed Type 1 diabetic (1.5 LADA).
Like most healthcare professionals I immediatly thought they meant Type 2 because of my age.
Since then I have been on a steep learning curve which is easy for me because I know where to look and get information. However I'm sure it must be very scary for people who are not in my position.
One thing I have found is the term 'diabetes' is well known (sugar in the blood) but not what Type 1 and Type 2 mean. As terms they are not very meaninful and I find I am contantly explaining the difference even to some of my collegues.
Does anyone have a better way of describing these different diseases?
How about 'aDiabetes' for autoimmune Type 1 diabetes and 'mDiabetes' for metabolic Type 2 diabetes?
After all we don't say you have the disease 'sneezing' but you have a cold, flu or an allergy.