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Help understanding results type 1 or 2

K

kend81

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi I'm new to the forum and would be really grateful for some help on understanding my results. My blood test has came back with HBA1C, Haemoglobin A1C level -IFCC standardised 53mmol/mol.
What type is it type 1 or type 2?
I was diagnosed with diabetes last year and put on medication. This is a new blood test this year and nurse says she urgently needs to speak to me. So now I'm worried.
Thanks in advance kend
 

Hi and welcome to the forums.

Firstly, forum rules don't allow us to diagnose so you really need to ask your doctor about that.

Did they give you a diabetes type when you were diagnosed last year?

But it sounds as though your blood test result is just an hba1c, which tells you how your blood sugars have been going for the last 3 months.

The tests to determine diabetes type (cpeptide and GAD) aren't done automatically in the UK, you have to have some other red flags to suggest you are not T2 (which is by far the most common form of diabetes).

Can I ask what medication you are on and whether you know what your hba1c was last year at diagnosis?

As a long term T1, I wouldn't be too upset by an hba1c of 53, though I prefer it to be lower, so I doubt that the hba1c by itself is cause to panic. (Disclaimer, I am not a medical professional).

Once more, welcome.
 
Hi EllieM
Thank you for your reply. No they never said I was first put on metformin which didn't agree with me so it was changed to Linagliptin. Just checked my medical records and my blood test is exactly the same result as last year. Iv not even seen a diabetic nurse. Just prescribed the tablets and a nurse came out a few weeks ago to redo my bloods. Type 1 is pretty common in my family. I suffer with a few medical problems anyway registered disabled and in chronic pain every single day, but the past few months, my legs have been in terrible pain and cramps, my feet hurt with pins snd needles and so do my hands and fingers , and also my right eye keeps getting what I can only describe as a bright floating light in it, sometimes it can hurt. So need to check if this has something to do with my normal medical issues or with my diabetes.
 
You cannot tell which type by hba1c alone no matter what level it is. It might suggest type 1 is more likely if it has risen significantly and rapidly (like in a few months rather than few years) without any obvious dietary or other explanation. Long term static levels suggest type 2, as type 1 definitely gets worse without insulin (although there is a slow onset version, LADA, to confuse matters). Even cpeptide/insulin and antibodies tests aren’t always 100% conclusive but mostly identify which type along with presentation. Sadly they aren’t done in many/most cases.

Metformin is usually a drug prescribed for type 2 and usually the first one offered. Occasionally a type 1 might get it but rarely as an initial option. Statistically type 2 is the most likely as 90% are diagnosed T2. That’s said it doesn’t mean it always right as a significant minority of type 1 were initially misdiagnosed as type 2 first. And there maybe more never officially reclassified just put onto insulin as medication for type 2 simply didn’t work (because it was the wrong thing!)

So in all I’d guess (and remind you it is a guess) that you were diagnosed type 2 but a simple question to the nurse/dr or check of your notes in the nhs app should tell you.
 
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