Help please - freaked out - is GAD indicitive of Type 1?

Hi, not 100% sure but il try from my experience. A positive gad anti body test will probably certainly result in being diagnosed as type 1. Having a positive test its not harmful other than showing your body is attacking your islets which are in your pancreas . But, as your islet cells are functioning will show you are producing insulin but may decline over a period of unknown time as you have the gad anti bodies attacking them. This will gradually result in your islet cells functioning at much lower levels thus requiring insulin. No need to panic or stress which is hard I know. Have you got a meter to test and also r u on any diabetic meds?

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Hi Sunshine. I think I'm very similar to yourself. Aged 46, diagnosed diabetes, assumed T2. Down the line, positive GAD test which meant T1. To be honest, we're lucky to be diagnosed. Many go for months and months without proper diagnosis. Eventually you'll be insulin dependant, if not already. It's OK though. There's much worse we could get ! Good luck and don't panic. You'll be fine. You may be in the "honeymoon phase/period". I think I am. Body still producing some insulin.


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Sunshine, no need to feel silly. from your results it may be enough temporarily to control diet and exercise but, how long for ???. Insulin probably inevitable at a certain point and will probably skip the metformin stage. You'll have a better idea when speaking to consultant. Any concerns, just ask. Keep monitoring, you'll be all good.

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Hi sorry a quick reply as I'm just getting my kids ready for bed, it sounds like slow onset type 1, I am this and was diagnosed in 2010, from diagnosis to being insulin dependant has been 3 years.. quite good going. I would recommend lowering your carb intake if you haven't already as this 'could' extend the period between now and when you eventually need insulin, as your pancreas will need to make less insulin for a lower carb diet, though of course you will make insulin regardless whether you eat or not until your pancreas has completely stopped producing it. There are a couple of others on here (elaine) who is also a slow onset type 1 (lada/1.5) x

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Sunshine, I'm currently on insulin but low levels. I take a long acting one and also a fast acting one with meals. Honestly, it's no big deal. You will have good and bad days. Your honeymoon phase could last a long time but I'll be honest and say I think you'll eventually end up on insulin but it's not painful and just becomes habit, like brushing your teeth. It is very normal to be frightened/anxious so don't think you're weird. I'm sure you'll be fine and we're all here to help and support.


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My honest ( and possibly biased ) opinion is that T1 is easier to control. You count how many carbs are in your meal, and you inject accordingly. Low carb is good for us all but if as a T1 you fancy a treat, you just inject for it. If your bloods are running high, you can inject and bring them down. T2's don't have as much instant control and tend to be more leaning towards low carb for control. That's not saying T2's have poor control and I'm also not saying T1 is easy. It's still a personal thing and different people will have different problems.
As for weight loss, there's no reason why a T1 should gain weight. It's simply physics, if you take in more calories than you burn, you'll gain. That's the same for anyone. I have not gained any weight an also have a little abdominal spread but no more or less since diagnosis.
It's good that you're keen to learn. Keep asking questions and reading !


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That's good going! I was actually diagnosed in pregnancy, they assumed it was GD as my blood test came back borderline diabetic, it did go away, them 1 year later I became pregnant again, it was then diagnosed very early on, and because I was young/normal BMI they tested for type 1 antibodies and had (i don't know my levels sorry) and they said they are certain I am type 1, I went on insulin at 24 weeks along, after he was born I drank some lucozade in hospital to check whether it had gone, and my blood sugar was 13mmol. Until recently I controlled it with cutting out most carbs, and no sugary drinks, however I had reactive hypoglycemia, of for example I treated myself to a cheese pasty, my 1hour reading shot up to 10mmol, then 30minutes later it would be around 2.8! So I had lots of lows. I knew my pancreas was giving up (sorry that sounds drastic lol!) When the reactive hypos stopped and my levels remained highs for example of I ate something naughty, it went up to 10 and didn't come back down for hours. I'm expecting baby number 3 which tied in with when my levels started going high, so I have no idea what will happen insulin wise once he is born in august, I want to stay hopeful I will get away with another few months but who knows, I'm thinking I will only need tiny amounts though at first. Sorry I've waffled on abit x

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Regarding weight loss I'm not too sure but usually type 1s lose or quicker due to High sugars/ketones if uncontrolled but overall I'm not sure it makes a difference. Since alot of type 2s are very overweight to start with they may find they lose weight quicker initially, have they checked your thyroid, I think this can affect weight loss,also do you make sure to eat breakfast most days? As this will boost the metabolism x

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Hi Sunshine,

I spent 21 months on Metformin as a type 2. It wasn't until about month 16 that my levels started to climb and other meds were added. By month 21 I had then lost a lot of weight and my levels were getting in the teens most of the time and I got referred to a Consultant.

My GAD test result was 1943 and my HbA1c was climbing by the week and my keytones were 4+.

You will be okay for a while as long as you keep an eye on your diet and don't worry. It is far better on injections and you will be able to eat again. I have now been on insulin since last August and it's something you just get used to. If you stick with the low carb you won't need much insulin so weight shouldn't be a problem.

Ask questions, take a friend / relative with you when you learn about the insulin....it's amazing what you forget and it helps that someone understands so they can help you get settled into it all.

Best wishes
Angie

Injecting is no big deal. Honest ! It's pain free and you get used to it. As for complications, no different to type 2. Ultimately, if you can control your BG levels whether type 1 or 2 then you should be fine.


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Well, you're no different to anyone else. Nobody wants to be dependant on any form of drug but it will keep you alive ! Ultimately, you can buckle and let diabetes take over your life and keep you in perpetual fear or you just shrug your shoulders, accept it ( reluctantly ) and master it ! The more you learn and read and ask questions , the easier it becomes. We're all reliant on certain thi gs from birth, whether we like it or not. Try living without water lol ! Think of your insulin ( eventually ) as water ! It may be a long way off yet but educate yourself now and you'll find life so much easier !


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isn't injecting insulin tough going on your system? Is there a point that your body just 'gives up'? And aren't there likely to be more health complications being insulin dependant than being type 2...?

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If you don't have enough of your own insulin then you need to replace what's missing. Don't look on it as a medication, people without insulin dependent diabetes produce their own constantly, they don't think about it. Insulin is needed for a whole host of things not just getting glucose into cells. Without it you become very ill. Pre 1922 the outlook for the insulin deficient was grim, now we can climb Everest and get Olympic golds. (well some of us but the point is that insulin used properly enables us to be well and take part in almost anything.)
The important thing is to learn about it's use so that you can get nearer mimicking what would happen naturally. As Mo said injected is no big deal , most people find it doesn't hurt and the thought is worse than the reality.