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Autoimmune system

H

happycat

Well-Known Member
I was diagnosed with diabetes in September. I am not particularly overweight, we don't have any diabetes in the family. I do seem to have developed some autoimmune problems e.g. underactive thyroid. We have had a lot of autoimmune problems in our family such as rheumatoid arthritis etc. I also have low platelets and there is some question over liver function. Dr gave me a bad prognosis and said that it could be that my diabetes is being caused by autoimmune problems. He was very keen to put me on statins, metformin etc and was rather annoyed when I declined. A friend of mine told me today that there are quite a lot of people with diabetes who also have thyroid problems and other autoimmune problems and it does not mean that it is time to get measured up for the coffin! Does anybody else on here have any autoimmune disorders? Can they cause diabetes? Are they really life threatening or was he just trying to get me to agree the drugs? He was also very anti trying to control it with diet and exercise. He was adamant that it does not work and puts the patient at severe risk of complications. He said that I am at serious risk of a heart attack or a stroke. Cholestrol is 3 blood pressure about 118/67. I have put myself on a low-carb diet and am exercsing more and BGs are coming down. Maybe no one can answer these questions, but it does say that we can ask. I'd be grateful if anyone has any experience of this if they could share it. Sorry to have rambled on but I am concerned.
 
Hi. Was your doc serious? I'm not an expert particularly on auto-immune problems but to say that diet and exercise should not be considered appears to me to be madness. It sounds like you may possibly have late onset T1 as your weight is low; just a guess. This would be caused by auto-immune attack on the pancreas and can be diagnosed by c-peptide and GAD tests. I'll be interested in what others on the forum think about this. Statins and Metformin are par for the course at diabetes diagnosis. With your low-level of cholesterol, statins don't appear to be needed? Metformin won't do any harm but won't have that much effect. What was your blood sugar reading at diagnosis? Have you had an HBa1c blood test yet? How old are you? We would always recommend getting a blood sugar meter so you can be in control of what food affects you and what your sugars typically are.
 
Thanks for your reply. He did not actually say which type it is. When I asked he said the treatment is the same. He said there was no need to do blood tests and they don't provide any equipment as I don't need it. I bought my own, but the strips are expensive. My
HBa1c test result was 11.9 so not good. I asked if I could have a test to find out if it was LADA and he said it was not necessary as the treatment is the same and the sooner I cooperated with "what works for everyone else" the better. I have to go for another test in December because of the other problems so I am going to make sure I see one of the other doctors. They tend to "stick together" though. I am glad to have found the forum because at least I can let off steam here. I don't know anyone with diabetes and the family don't know anything about it and think that I should do what the doctor says.
 
Hi. I would certainly try to see another GP or insist on a referral. Yes, in many ways LADA treatment is the same as for T2 but as the diabetes can progress much faster having a meter is essential together with 3 monthly HBa1Cs. My nephew was diagnosed with LADA at 22 a couple of years back. He went from 'normal' to ending up in A&E one day and has been on insulin ever since; it came from nowhere. If your HBa1C stays at the level of 11.9 or thereabouts you must insist on further tablets or onto insulin. I suspect I have LADA but my GP also doesn't understand it. I'm on 3rd level tablets with very poor control so insulin must be round the corner. Sadly LADA is very poorly understood and ignorance in the NHS on diabetes overall is rampant. You can have a GAD test done privately and costs around £190. I'm still considering having it done so I can warn my family of their higher level of risk thru the family genes
 
happycat said:
Thanks for your reply. He did not actually say which type it is. When I asked he said the treatment is the same.
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As Daibell says, change your doctor. Find one who knows about diabetes, because anyone saying that different types of diabetes have the same treatment does not know about diabetes.
Some GPs do extra training in diabetes, but it's usually in type 2 only. I would aim to find one who will refer you to a hospital specialist. (so basically I'm just saying what Daibell said, but that's because Daibell is totally right and it needs reinforcing!)
 
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