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Feeling very frightened, sudden jump in HbA1C

M

mariavontrapp

Well-Known Member
Messages
293
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi guys, earlier this year my HbA1C had gone up to 58, so I agreed to take some Metformin. The side-effects were awful so after giving it a go for 3 months I gave up. I went back to what I thought was healthy low-carbing and thought all was well, but I've just been tested and my Hba1c is 107! Has anyone else had a big jump like this? Unfortunately I haven't been self-testing for a few months so I didn't notice anything was wrong.
I'm really scared about this because others in my family have had serious pancreatic issues. What could have made it shoot up like this?
Doctor has put me on glimepiride and is sending me for a cat scan.
I would appreciate any thoughts or encouragement
 
First, if you have trouble with Metformin you should be changed to Metformin SR (Slow Release). It sounds like you may be Late onset T1 (LADA). There are two tests for that which can help define it i.e. GAD and C-Peptide. Are you losing weight unexpectedly or do you have excess weight? Do stay with the low-carb diet
 
Daibell said:
First, if you have trouble with Metformin you should be changed to Metformin SR (Slow Release). It sounds like you may be Late onset T1 (LADA). There are two tests for that which can help define it i.e. GAD and C-Peptide. Are you losing weight unexpectedly or do you have excess weight? Do stay with the low-carb diet
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I have lost a little weight, about 5 pounds, without trying. I think I will push for these tests you mentioned. I don't know what LADA is so I will look into that thank you for your advice
 
mariavontrapp said:
Hi guys, earlier this year my HbA1C had gone up to 58, so I agreed to take some Metformin. The side-effects were awful so after giving it a go for 3 months I gave up. I went back to what I thought was healthy low-carbing and thought all was well, but I've just been tested and my Hba1c is 107! Has anyone else had a big jump like this? Unfortunately I haven't been self-testing for a few months so I didn't notice anything was wrong.
I'm really scared about this because others in my family have had serious pancreatic issues. What could have made it shoot up like this?
Doctor has put me on glimepiride and is sending me for a cat scan.
I would appreciate any thoughts or encouragement
Click to expand...

Forum rules specifically don't allow us to diagnose, so we have to be a bit careful what we say.

It sounds to me like your GP is taking your condition seriously, and running the required tests, though I agree with @Daibell that cpeptide and GAD tests might be useful. cpeptide will tell you if you are producing too little insulin while GAD should pick up most cases where your autoimmune system is attacking your insulin cells (as in LADA).

As 90% of diabetics are T2, the initial assumption (unless diagnosed via DKA or you are a child) tends to be that you have T2.

But there are a number of other types, which get tested for when T2 behaves unexpectedly. As well as LADA there is T3c (lack of insulin caused by damage to the pancreas), and MODY (a genetic kind that runs in families and needs a genetic test to identify the variant before moving on to the right treatment). And there may well be some other types that I have not heard of as I am not an endocrinologist.

At this stage, without the tests, you can't say much about which type of diabetes it is (and it may still be T2, illness and other reasons can push levels up temporarily).

Are you doing blood tests now? Glimepiride can theoretically cause hypos so your GP should supply you with a meter.

Good luck and do let us know how you go.
 
EllieM said:
Forum rules specifically don't allow us to diagnose, so we have to be a bit careful what we say.

It sounds to me like your GP is taking your condition seriously, and running the required tests, though I agree with @Daibell that cpeptide and GAD tests might be useful. cpeptide will tell you if you are producing too little insulin while GAD should pick up most cases where your autoimmune system is attacking your insulin cells (as in LADA).

As 90% of diabetics are T2, the initial assumption (unless diagnosed via DKA or you are a child) tends to be that you have T2.

But there are a number of other types, which get tested for when T2 behaves unexpectedly. As well as LADA there is T3c (lack of insulin caused by damage to the pancreas), and MODY (a genetic kind that runs in families and needs a genetic test to identify the variant before moving on to the right treatment). And there may well be some other types that I have not heard of as I am not an endocrinologist.

At this stage, without the tests, you can't say much about which type of diabetes it is (and it may still be T2, illness and other reasons can push levels up temporarily).

Are you doing blood tests now? Glimepiride can theoretically cause hypos so your GP should supply you with a meter.

Good luck and do let us know how you go.
Click to expand...
Thank you Ellie, this is all really helpful. I didn't know there were all these types. Yes I will be testing my bg now that I am on the Glimepiride.
 
mariavontrapp said:
Pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. I think this is why I have been referred for a scan. That's the scary bit!
Click to expand...
Those things can cause yet another type of diabetes, type 3C.
Sounds like your doctor is very alert, sending you for a scan to rule out those kind of nasties. :)

Let us know about the results and try not to panic, pancreatic cancer is very rare!
 
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