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Advice Please

goanna

goanna

Member
Messages
20
Location
Australia
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
working too hard!! Ungratefulness
Hi, It has been quite a while since I last visited the forum and am appreciative of any advice. My GP of the last 17years has just retired and so I went to see the doctor replacing her as I needed more prescriptions for Insulin and needed to meet the doctor before a script would be provided. I was quite shocked when within the first 5 minutes of the consultation I was told that she did not think that I needed to be on Insulin and that I should change to Byetta as it would help me lose weight.
I explained to her that my specialist had told me that I was LADA and that when I was first diagnosed I had a BMI of 24 (I was 42 yrs old)and it had only been since starting Insulin (2and a half years ago) that I had put on 10 kilos (of which I am determined to lose). She did not seem worried about me going off the Insulin because she said that it was very rare to be Type 1.5 so late in my life that she did not think that i would be Insulin dependent. She has given me a month to think it over and research before we start the Byetta road!!!
Am I correct in questioning this treatment? I don't think she had even looked at my history or previous tests etc.I have made an appointment at yet another doctors for advice as I would really like to get my diabetes back under control as the last 8 months have not been great... the last HBA1c was 9.2 from 6.9. I am on Lantus 25units X 1 and NOVORAPID 8 units X 2 (as well as Metformin and glicazide). Oh and I have a thyroid condition that I am on Thyroxine for.
Thank you in advance.
 
Sorry, but I was diagnosed LADA at 52.
If you are not happy, let her know you are writing to your specialist with her diagnosis, see how she responds.



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Hi,Gomma. :)
She has given me a month to think it over and research before we start the Byetta road!!!
Click to expand...

I think she was being quite fair.
Having a second opinion is also a very wise thing to do.
They have your history, therefore should know best.
Byetta is known to cause weight loss, your research will reveal all these things.

I think your in safe hands and I wish you all the best.

Roy. :)
 
Hi goanna, as far as I am aware if you are LADA you will need to keep taking insulin as LADA is a form of T1 and you will be insulin dependant, no ifs and no buts, if you stop insulin your bg levels will rise and Byetta will not help.

If you are T2 then Byetta is probably a good option for you as you have put on weight whilst using insulin.

As far as I know the only way to tell 100% if you are T1/LADA is either a Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD) antibody test which tests for Type 1 diabetes antibodies, not present in T2 diabets or a C-peptide test which measures the amount of insulin C-peptide present in the blood. C-peptide is a naturally-occurring by-product of pancreatic insulin and so will be high in T2's and very low in T1/LADA. (As far as I am aware)

Were you diagnosed as LADA after either a C-Peptide test or an antibody test (GAD)?

If not I would ask for these tests to be carried out to definitely define what type you truly are. And if these tests werent carried out then I imagine your doctor can only have been assuming you were LADA. And as the old saying goes, when you assume you make an ass out of u and me, never assume always ascertain.

Good luck and all the best
 
Hi, Yes I have had both tests and was diagnosed 2 years ago as LADA. Thank you for your advice... I was shocked that a doctor would make assumptions after a 5 minute consult. Yes i will seek a 2nd opinion as well as lose the weight. Thanks again!
 
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