Confused about my doctors/consultants advice, am I type 1.5?

mrbondsbody said:

I recently was referred the hospital because they find it strange that I am so thin for a type 2 diabetic. I have been tested for type 1 by two antibodies and its negative. She said there is an 80% chance I am not type 1, however there might be a 20% chance that I am a slow burn type1 diabetic. I am on the VLCD (5% carbs, 15% protein, 80% fat).

I had my ketones measured at the clinic and they were 2.5. Which is not surprising as its a ketogenic diet. However the doctor wants to put me back on a carb diet, just to see if I produce ketones.

The funny thing is that there is a test that can be done (a total of 4 antibodies) instead of going back to carbs but its not offered on the NHS only in research studies. I might go private, however the doctor advised against it. I checked it out and it cost about £600!

My blood glucose are a consistent 5-6 mmol even after eating. But they are worried I could just sky rocket into ketoacidosis.

Any advice?

Thanks,

James

Click to expand...

Sounds similar to my predicament over 8 years ago. While I had been quite a weight, it dramatically dropped. The thing which caused a wrong T2 diagnosis was an earlier glucose tolerance test showing diabetic range but with diet and exercise I went back into reasonable range and still had a healthy weingt.
When About 4 years later I had the dramatic weight loss the doctor sent me for an HBA1c and when this showed 12+ he put me on metformin. That did the trick for BG control, even went below 6, and while I still very gradually kept losing weight the assumption and diagnosis was T2. Eventually after about 7 years of this when I was on max Januvia, it was not holding the 3 monthlies at bay. Some really bad fasting BGLs too.

It was then off to the specialist. He spotted it in a flash and a C peptide test confirmed T1. I don't think it is helpful to talk of 1.5 when the reality is T1 and should treated as such. To get this in the eary 50s was a blow, but it is best to face up to reality and welcome the appropriate treatment. The more you learn, the better things get. While I am resigned to the fact I don't expect any cure for me (pancreatic eylettes probably too damaged by now) the thing I know will happen will be better and better insulins and delivery methods and better outcomes. It is not bad at all. When I look at the story of the great Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram being diagnosed T1 in his early 30s, it did not stop him over the next few years cementing himself as one of the greatest fast bowlers cricket has seen.