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GAD test back

M

Mileana

Well-Known Member
Messages
553
Location
Denmark
Hello all,

As I mentioned, I've been thinking about whether I was LADA/1.5 for a while as things don't add up.

Results are now back.

C-Peptide of 1.08
GAD-antibodies 561 IU with a ref value of 25 IU.

As I understand this, I am making insulin at the moment, in around normal quantities but due to my weight it is not enough for my body size.

My pancreas is dying so I can expect to be entirely insulin dependant in a matter of months/years even if I lose my excess weight.

I don't have any particular problem with that. I just like to know.

Any comments on results? Have I got it right?
 
Why are you sure our pancreas won't recover if you lose weight?
Hana
 
Because it's unlikely you can make an autoimmune disease not happen just because of a weight loss.

I might stall the decline in active b-cells and am, and intend to continue, trying my darnedest. I don't plan on managing my diabetes any less actively because of this result - however, I like to have realistic expectations. At some point in the future, my body will have eaten the beta cells. Actually, it is already well on the way. That's a shame. Doing the best I can, I can probably delay it by x years. I can't prevent it entirely.

For others who are type 2 and don't have 500+ in antibodies, I'm absolutely certain that the outlook is a lot better for a long, long period of remission/diet only management etc.
 
My C-pep result was 0.46 versus a range of 0.36 -1.16
I've never had to this my anti GAD result although I was confirmed that I was positive for anti GAD.

I'm T1.5 or slow onset of T1 in adults. Ultimately it's autoimmune so slimming down isn't going to help, but keeping fit and active will help to ensure you're insulin is used efficiently (when you do go onto insulin).

You appear to be ok for C-pep levels but you do have anti bodies right?

If anti GAD is high, and C-pep ok it does mean that your immune system is (very slowly) killing off the insulin production in the cells in your Pancreas so eventually you will need insulin.

What does your doctor/medical team say about your next steps? Have they made recommendations on your diet for now for example?

You mention weight, maintaining a good weight is always beneficial, but if you have some extra weight already then losing it will not stop you getting this form of Diabetes. It may start to drop off as your C-Pep reduces in the future (indicating reduced insulin production by the Pancreas) but that's dangerous as the lack of insulin in the body for our type of Diabetes can lead to Ketoacidosis,

I take it your medical team will do regular re-tests on you?

(It doesn't stop the other type 2 Diabetes either but it can help the body use insulin much better as the Pancreas are already working very hard and over producing but excess fat inhibits the insulin efficiency - I think this is correct but extremely over simplified).

Sorry just spotted your newer post there.
AND I've just realised you're already on insulin....I should go back to bed really, I have a monster of a cold and my brain clearly isn't working.
 
Thanks, Sanober :) Get well soon.

I'm happy at least that we seem to agree on the general plan and understanding of this type of diabetes. It is both good and bad to have this result as it sort of ruins the idea that I can put it in indefinate remission - on the other hand, there a relief in it now that all my questions start to be answered and things make a bit more sense.

Plan I guess is very much up to me - I have vastly reduced my insulin on low carb, lost a good deal of weight (some of it due to ketoacidosis when I was in hospital in April and put on insulin). I don't exactly think I will come off of insulin - I can't seem to tolerate any carbs or much protein without spikes. I plan to get my weight into near-normal range and see for myself though, but it would be for a while only, not for good, if it worked.

My endo is being kept informed and is good at suggestion, agreeing to try and test various things, so I am not complaining - although sometimes even with that, it is a lot of trial and error and leaps of faith and fingers crossed sometimes, heh.
 
Hi Mileana!

Welcome to the LADA club! I know it's not what you wanted, but at least you know and can treat it accordingly. There are several of us on the forum, so you are not alone!

You are right that losing weight will not stop you needing insulin eventually - LADA is progressive as your beta cells get destroyed. However, losing weight will be very good for your health in so many ways and might mean that you will be able to take less insulin. It will also help you to avoid the dreaded double-diabetes, so keep up the good work with the weight loss!

Take care.

Smidge
 
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