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

S

Sunshine_Kisses

Well-Known Member
Help please, freaking out re GAD results

Hey there,

So I've just been to the GP and he advised me that my GAD result is extremely elevated.

I was diagnosed with diabetes three months ago, but because I'm not very overweight (my BMI is normal, though I have too much belly fat) and relatively young, they were running Islet and GAD antibody tests... the Islet came back as normal, but the GAD - which has only just come back - is 1682. The normal range is 0 - 5.

My GP was pretty useless as he says he doesn't know anything about what GAD test results do and don't mean - and then started reading from the screen which said 'further tests may be required for epilepsy...' - and then he said a few other illnesses that I've never heard of. He then said I would need to speak to my diabetes consultant, who of course I won't be able to get hold of now till monday morning at the earliest.

Do any of you know what GAD test results mean? Does is mean I'm definitely type 1, even though my Islets were normal?
I am very prone to getting very wound up and anxious with things relating to my health, so if you do know it means something awful, can I ask you be sensitive in how you reply as I'm really, really worried... thank you x
 
Sorry for the duplicate post, but realised this might be a better place to ask: I've just been to the GP and he advised me that my GAD result is extremely elevated.

I was diagnosed with diabetes three months ago, but because I'm not very overweight (my BMI is normal, though I have too much belly fat) and relatively young, they were running Islet and GAD antibody tests... the Islet came back as normal, but the GAD - which has only just come back - is 1682. The normal range is 0 - 5.

My GP was pretty useless as he says he doesn't know anything about what GAD test results do and don't mean - and then started reading from the screen which said 'further tests may be required for epilepsy...' - and then he said a few other illnesses that I've never heard of. He then said I would need to speak to my diabetes consultant, who of course I won't be able to get hold of now till monday morning at the earliest.

Do any of you know what GAD test results mean? Does is mean I'm definitely type 1, even though my Islets were normal?
I am very prone to getting very wound up and anxious with things relating to my health, so if you do know it means something awful, can I ask you be sensitive in how you reply as I'm really, really worried... thank you x
 
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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Hi Brett

I really appreciate the reply, thank you.

I know it probably seems silly to panic - I'm kinda weird when it comes to health and have a very over active imagination that can send me a bit la la when it comes to stuff like this :(

I have got a meter - thank god - or really would be totally freaking out.

I'm not on any meds at the mo - they were going to put me on metmorfin at diagnosis - but I've a total phobia of medication (literally not taken a single paracetomal / ibuprofen - nothing, for over 7 years) so I asked if I could try to manage through diet... I've worked really hard for the last couple of months and thought I might be able to manage it through diet - which is why this has come as a huge blow - as, as far as I'm aware - I don't think you can manage type 1 through diet, can you? And my phobia of medication is going to be very very hard to get past. I know you lot have all had to deal with this so I feel a bit silly and probably sound a bit ridiculous but I'm really really upset and pretty frightened too...
 
Hi Mo - thanks for the reply too! I've read about the honeymoon phase and guess if I'm type 1 I must be in it as not on any meds and blood sugars generally around the 6's... Are you on insulin already? Will they put me on it, even though my blood sugars are not currently awful?
 
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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Thanks guys... do any of you know what your GAD was at diagnosis? 1,682 sounds insanely high to me if the range is 0- 5 :( :( :(

Is my GAD indicative of how long it might take before I have to take insulin?

Do type 1's find it difficult to lose weight? I ask as, though not strictly overweight (bmi 23) I do have too much belly fat... which is why I assumed I fell into type 2 / insulin resistant category... but have found it a bit odd that despite dramatically changing my diet and adding in loads of exercise, my belly fat hasn't really changed... and yet I read loads of type 2 peeps on here saying that they've lost stones by switching to low carb... is it cos I'm not type 2 that this hasn't happened to me? I'm just trying to fit the jigsaw pieces together...

I guess cos I've only been reading info about type 2 diabetes, I have no idea what I'm dealing with now... my very loose and limited (and apologies if totally ignorant) understanding is that type 1 is more dangerous... hence being scared...

Hellbunny I am currently on less than 50g carbs at the mo - so am assuming it would be good to keep going with this? Also, scuse the personal question, but did you have children pre or post diagnosis? x
 
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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OK, so that answers my first totally ignorant question that you can get pregnant/carry a baby safely whilst being type 1, thank you! Sorry if that sounds ridiculously stupid - just I know a friend who got completely hyper as she thought she might be diabetic when pregnant (she wasn't - but her reaction made me think it's a big problem) x

At the moment I don't have hypos - is that a good sign? Does that mean I eventually will?

Mo - I see what you're saying about the advantage of being able to alter your insulin - and I'm totally up for every cloud n all that - but 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...? As I said, if anything I'm saying is way off mark, please do forgive me - I fully admit to be very ignorant about type 1.
 
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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Thanks so much Angela for your reply. A couple of you have mentioned ketones now - I have intentionally forced myself into ketosis (known as nutritional ketosis) to try and stabalize my blood sugars - I do know there's a very dangerous state for diabetics to be in called something like ketoacidosis - but I understood that nutritional ketosis was different... Again though, I was doing this from a type 2 perspective. I know I'm definitely in ketosis as I bough ketosis sticks to check - should I now get myself out of ketosis - is it dangerous for me if I'm type 1...?
 
mo1905 said:
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. quote]

Thanks so much for the reassurance! I'm not scared of the injections really, or the pain - I'm scared of the need to be dependent on a drug, and worried of the long term effects of being dependent on a drug... I know if I'm type 1 it's a must, but I've just got a real phobia of medication and its other effects it can have... :(
Click to expand...
 
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...?
Click to expand...
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.
 
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