Hi Everybody. Initially diagnosed in March following getting up in the night going to the loo and feeling thirsty every evening and losing about a stone and half of weight over a year.
I'm a 45 year male with a BMI of 25 weighing about twelve stone.
My morning fast level was 17 and Hbac1 was 117. After seeing the GP diabetic nurse about a month later from my initial bloods, I was put on metformin working up to 3 tables a day over a period of two weeks and advised to come back for further tests as the GP thought I was Lada type 1.5 as I didn't fit the type 2 profile. Unfortunately in South Wales the trial period for testing for type 1.5 diabetes had ended so was not able to test for this. Within a week I was referred to the local hospital diabetes team who again thought I may be type 1.5. I was given a blood glucose meter straight away and told to take my readings twice a day for a week and to come back a week later to discus. My readings in that week before breakfast and evening meals were all above ten typically in the twelve’s. I also immediately cut down on all the sweet stuff (the nurse said I had a diet of a teenager with the chocolate and sweets I used to eat1). The hospital saw me straight away as my sugars were quite high and also they knew if I was type 1.5 going on insulin sooner rather than later may help protect some of my remaining insulin producing cells
On returning to the hospital a week later I was offered the opportunity to try a different mixture of tablets or to go on insulin. I could tell by the doctor that they thought the best course would to go straight on insulin. So on the 19th of April I started Novomix 30 twice a day starting off on 10 in the morning and 8 in the evening. I then kept in touch with the hospital over the next few weeks emailing my glucose levels and slowing increasing my dose on the advice of the hospital up to 17 17 units now. My meter is now showing a 7.2 seven day average and regularly measure below 7 throughout the day.
I've been to see the dietician who has advised on things to avoid etc my generally not a huge change in my original diet other than chocolates and sweets !
I popped in to see my GP today after taking bloods last week my Hbac1 is now 77 after being on insulin for about 5 weeks so she was pleased with my progress. Still not officially diagnosed as type 1.5 and the nurse advised that I am on the records as being type 2. No history of diabetes in my family but my mother did have rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid problems which does tie up with type 1.5.
It’s been quite a rollercoaster since initially being diagnosed. Initially I was pretty down and took a few weeks to get my head around it all. The thought of injecting myself did make me squirm but after the first couple it’s not as bad as I thought. Occasionally it hurts if I catch the wrong spot, but find the finger pricking worse than the injections. It’s been a bit of a learning curve sorting out the repeat prescriptions and organising things like sharps bins and associated collection but are there or there about at the moment. Family and friends have been great, particularly my wife who now watches my diet like a hawk! I‘ve informed the DVLA, who have now given me a 3 year license now that I’m on insulin. There has been no effect on my car insurance.
I’m not seeing my GP for another year now but in regular contact with the hospital whilst we find the right insulin values (via email and phone).
So overall a life changing event but there can be alot worse things in life. Hopefully it will be a wakeup call for me particularly my diet. Next things to tackle is exercise (or the lack of it) so plan to go swimming. I don’t find using the Novomix too constraining in terms of what I eat but going forward may look at going on more injections adjusted to what I eat when things have settled down. Hope that this helps other people in a similar situation and going through similar issues. This forum has been great, really useful and informative with plenty of helpful posts!!
I'm a 45 year male with a BMI of 25 weighing about twelve stone.
My morning fast level was 17 and Hbac1 was 117. After seeing the GP diabetic nurse about a month later from my initial bloods, I was put on metformin working up to 3 tables a day over a period of two weeks and advised to come back for further tests as the GP thought I was Lada type 1.5 as I didn't fit the type 2 profile. Unfortunately in South Wales the trial period for testing for type 1.5 diabetes had ended so was not able to test for this. Within a week I was referred to the local hospital diabetes team who again thought I may be type 1.5. I was given a blood glucose meter straight away and told to take my readings twice a day for a week and to come back a week later to discus. My readings in that week before breakfast and evening meals were all above ten typically in the twelve’s. I also immediately cut down on all the sweet stuff (the nurse said I had a diet of a teenager with the chocolate and sweets I used to eat1). The hospital saw me straight away as my sugars were quite high and also they knew if I was type 1.5 going on insulin sooner rather than later may help protect some of my remaining insulin producing cells
On returning to the hospital a week later I was offered the opportunity to try a different mixture of tablets or to go on insulin. I could tell by the doctor that they thought the best course would to go straight on insulin. So on the 19th of April I started Novomix 30 twice a day starting off on 10 in the morning and 8 in the evening. I then kept in touch with the hospital over the next few weeks emailing my glucose levels and slowing increasing my dose on the advice of the hospital up to 17 17 units now. My meter is now showing a 7.2 seven day average and regularly measure below 7 throughout the day.
I've been to see the dietician who has advised on things to avoid etc my generally not a huge change in my original diet other than chocolates and sweets !
I popped in to see my GP today after taking bloods last week my Hbac1 is now 77 after being on insulin for about 5 weeks so she was pleased with my progress. Still not officially diagnosed as type 1.5 and the nurse advised that I am on the records as being type 2. No history of diabetes in my family but my mother did have rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid problems which does tie up with type 1.5.
It’s been quite a rollercoaster since initially being diagnosed. Initially I was pretty down and took a few weeks to get my head around it all. The thought of injecting myself did make me squirm but after the first couple it’s not as bad as I thought. Occasionally it hurts if I catch the wrong spot, but find the finger pricking worse than the injections. It’s been a bit of a learning curve sorting out the repeat prescriptions and organising things like sharps bins and associated collection but are there or there about at the moment. Family and friends have been great, particularly my wife who now watches my diet like a hawk! I‘ve informed the DVLA, who have now given me a 3 year license now that I’m on insulin. There has been no effect on my car insurance.
I’m not seeing my GP for another year now but in regular contact with the hospital whilst we find the right insulin values (via email and phone).
So overall a life changing event but there can be alot worse things in life. Hopefully it will be a wakeup call for me particularly my diet. Next things to tackle is exercise (or the lack of it) so plan to go swimming. I don’t find using the Novomix too constraining in terms of what I eat but going forward may look at going on more injections adjusted to what I eat when things have settled down. Hope that this helps other people in a similar situation and going through similar issues. This forum has been great, really useful and informative with plenty of helpful posts!!
iagnosed end of April, confirmed by hospital consultant as T1 (late onset) even though I have had no GAD tests etc. HbA1levels have gone from 114 (12.6%) when first diagnosed to 77 (9.2%) end of May to 52 (7%) last week 
