Type 1 Antibody test at diagnosis?

[thomc_82]

Hi all,
I read about MODY for the first time, yesterday; I had never heard of it before.
I was diagnosed 9 years ago with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 27. For about three years, prior to being diagnosed, I'd experienced what I now know as diabetes-type symptoms - blurry vision, had to drink isotonic lucozade each day to feel "normal", etc.
Looking back, I reckoned that I must have been Type 2 first for a few years, then Type 1. But, after reading about MODY, I'm not so sure any more - given the long, slow dive into Type 1 symptoms, and my age at diagnosis.

Does anyone know if antibody tests are carried out by the NHS to ascertain the type of diabetes? Would they know for sure that I indeed have an auto-immune disease?

I'd really appreciate if anyone can shed some light on this.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Thom

 

[Diakat]

Sometimes it depends on how you are diagnosed.
What happened at diagnosis for you? Were you hospitalised? On your notes are you described as T1 or say T1 antibody positive/negative?

 

[thomc_82]

I was diagnosed after a blood test. My sugar reading was 16 and I was given metformin. I wasn't given any glucose monitor or anything like that. I had a bad reaction to the metformin, and since I had no way of checking my blood sugar level, I assumed I must've been low. I panicked and drank almost a full bottle of lucozade (I had no clue what to do), so ended up in hospital that day with a reading of 34. Next day, I was given a different tablet and it didn't work. My reading hovered around 15 the whole time. So, the next day I was started on Levemir and Novorapid insulin. I have never seen my record. I was just told "you have diabetes, Type 1". No mention of why or how I became diabetic, or whether it was a genetic mutation or auto-immune.
By the way, I live in Northern Ireland - not sure if that makes a difference to the procedures.
Thanks for you reply!

 

[thomc_82]

Consulted a doctor today. He said I was considered Type 2 in the beginning - that was not told to me at the time. He's going to refer me to get tested for antibodies and a gene test. So, hopefully I can finally find out for sure if my diabetes is an autoimmune issue, or indeed a gene mutation.

Thanks again for your help!