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Confused Type?

T

tuppenybun

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi, newly diagnosed after self presenting at the doctors with a history of 14lb weight loss, raging thirst, double vision, night sweats and feeling really terrible. Dr did blood tests and came back with aType 2 diagnosis.
I'm taking Metaformin, 1 x 500mg after each meal. My testing shows a blood reading of 5.5 average in the morning, rising to average 11.5 2-3 hours after eating. I've cut out all sugar and about half of the carbs i used to eat.
I suffer from a lot of auto immune illnesses.
My questions are,
1. how do they know if you are type 1 or type 2?
2. I'm feeling very nauseous and get very bad diahorrea after every meal.
I'm so confused by all of this, help??
 
Metformin used to do that to me - so I stopped taking it - but I could only manage one a day, despite the advice on the box - I might have tried two a day maybe twice - but felt so ill I could not bear it.

Which type you are is determined by your doctor - as you were put on Metformin it seems that Type 2 is the main suspect - you really need to speak to your doctor about the internal upsets, you might be told to tough it out for a few weeks or maybe swap to the slow release version.
However - as a type 2 I found it very difficult to lose weight on a diet with a high carb content, rapid weight loss is more associated with type 1.
 

Your symptoms are classic Type 1 to me. If you aren't overweight, and your average fasting glucose is around 5.5, Metformin won't be helping you. There are special tests to determine if you are T1. Do you know if you had both these? A print out of your test results will tell you, so I advise you to ask for one. All you need to do is ring the surgery.

If not, you should to return to your doctor and ask for the T1 tests - c-peptide and GAD. Many late onset T1s are misdiagnosed initially.

It will be the Metformin causing the tummy upsets. It is very common. There is a slow release version that is much kinder.

The high levels after eating could be down to a shortage of natural insulin or because you ate too many carbs. Whatever your diagnosis, you need to keep all carbs down to a minimum, especially potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, cereals and flour.
 
@tuppenybun A GAD test (to look for antibodies) can help determine your type. Don't be put off pushing for more input - you'd be surprised at the number of misdiagnoses with adults assumed to be Type 2.

Sudden and unexpected weight loss is a sign of possible Type 1, so that needs to be ruled out. If your GP isn't sure, ask for a referral to a specialist.
 
I'd be looking at a T1 diagnosis ae suggested by @Bluetit1802.

I'd also be interested to know if you presented with elevated ketones when you visited your doctor. It's not always a prerequisite for a T1 to have DKA at diagnosis, especially if caught early enough.

There is also the concept of LADA (or T1.5) which is entirely possible given the fact that you already have a history of autoimmune conditions. Naturally, T1 in its own right fits that criteria.

I'm not being cheeky here @tuppenybun, but often HCP's overlook a T1 diagnosis if the patient presents as not underweight and a little older. I'm not saying that you're old or fat... but it does happen from time to time. So you should really look into it again, the most important thing is getting the right diagnosis early on. It means you can correct things quicker and get on with your life
 
Hi. I agree you also sound likely to be T1. GPs just tend to guess T2 without thinking it could be T1. I suspect your blood tests didn't include the GAD and c-peptide hence the T2 would be a guess like my diagnosis was. Be prepared to politely challenge your GP if you are slim. I assume your weight loss was unplanned? Note that the meds for T1 are different from those for T2.
 
Excellent point @Daibell; I'd confidently say that C-peptide and GAD tests are few and far between in terms of diagnosing T1 and T1.5 diabetes.
 
Last edited:

I am 50 and yes, overweight!
 
My husband complained that i had the worst breath ever, could that mean anything?
 
tuppenybun said:
My husband complained that i had the worst breath ever, could that mean anything?
Click to expand...
It could mean that you have dangerously elevated ketones. In that case, it would be best to get back to your GP at the soonest instance. Depending on just how bad you feel, never rule out a visit to A&E.

Please bear in mind that none of us here are doctors and you should do what you feel is the best for you.
 
Yes, if the breath is sweet smelling like acetone then that can be dangerous if combined with high blood sugar. You can buy Ketostix to check your ketones if needed. Your excess weight works against being T1 but there will always be exceptions and you can in fact have both T1 and T2!
 
I was stupid skinny and my doc said I couldn't be diabetic because I wasn't obese!!!! My type 2 slowly evolved to LADA and now on insulin, just short of dying.
For some reason docs don't like doing c peptide and GAD tests but they are essential for the correct diagnosis and treatment. Type 2 meds do nothing for type 1/LADA. The only thing they might do is make it worse!
Push for those tests.

That being said, I do have to ask what you had for that meal? Many type twos need to severely restrict their carbs, not just cut down, and adopt a low carb higher fat diet to get lower bs readings. The 5.5 fasting and then the large spike points to your meal being too high in carbs or protein. The huge spike could also attribute to your other symptoms. When I'm on a roller coaster I feel like complete rubbish. Does your bs come back down before the next meal?
 
Hi Peeps, thanks for your replies, so sorry for the delay in update but I wanted to wait until after I'd seen the diabetic nurse. They are doing more blood tests to check my diagnosis as she agreed i do have a lot of other auto immune conditions. So that's good. She's also referred me for the chiropodist, retinal photos and a two 1/2 day course on diabetes. I'm on track with my low carb diet, have already lost half a stone! Woo hoo!!
My Hba1c was 79
Bad cholesterol 8.8
She advised statins but I've asked if i can have a month to try diet first.
I'm feeling much more reassured.
 
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