I'm a type2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DiabeticGeek

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309
Sorry you are still having trouble. Are you taking the metformin under the direction of a diabetes specialist or your GP? If you do have T2 then metformin will, if you can build up a tolerance to it, be very helpful. However, if you have LADA then my understanding is that the use of metformin is quite controversial. There are some reports in the scientific literature that say metformin is useful in the early stages, some say that it doesn't do much and some say that it can actually be harmful. Now, I'm no expert in this - but if I had LADA I would really want to talk to someone who was before embarking on a course of metformin treatment (and that really means a specialist, rather than a GP). Hopefully the sickness will go away as you get used to the metformin, but do increase the dose very gradually. Don't be afraid to rebel against your doctor if this is making you ill - remember you are the one suffering, not him.

As for the tests, I shall try my best to interpret the technobabble!

manxangel said:
i'm waiting on a eyelet? test result.
I think what you are talking about is an "Islet Cell Antibody" (ICA) test. The Islets of Langerhans are the parts of the pancreas that contain, among other things the beta cells that produce insulin. In LADA your own immune system attacks these cells, and a part of this attack involves the production of ICA. Therefore people with LADA usually have ICA, whereas T2 diabetics don't. This is one very good way to tell the difference between LADA and T2.

manxangel said:
my c pep is ok
That does sound like T2, although on its own it isn't conclusive. It does mean that it is almost certainly not T1 (in T1 C-peptide levels are extremely low, in T2 they are normal or high). In LADA the C-Peptide levels are usually low, but this is notoriously difficult to interpret. It is, however, one bit of evidence pointing to T2.

manxangel said:
bicarb is ok, even with the high levels of ketones i was experiencing
This is very good news. DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis) is the greatest short-term danger of uncontrolled diabetes (especially with T1) - it can come on very quickly and it can be fatal. Ketones are worrying, but if you were close to DKA then you would have very low bicarbonate levels.

manxangel said:
GAD antibodies, she said that my body was attacking my pancreas
Now this does sound like either LADA or T1. Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) is an enzyme that is produced by the pancreas, and in LADA it is one of the things that is attacked (hence the presence of GAD antibodies). They can, however, be found in T1 and sometimes even in very early pre-diabetics.

I can see why your doctors are uncertain, you seem to have an unusual combination of results. One test seems to point to point to T2, another to LADA. Hopefully the ICA (islet) test should cast some light on this.

manxangel said:
to be completly blunt, i'm terrified that when i drop my Lantus dose my levels are going to shoot up again, i can't go back to the way i was i really cant. i'm scared of what will happen, i'm going to try it though..
This probably won't happen. The C-Peptide test shows that your pancreas is still, for the moment, producing insulin (or at least that the early stages of insulin production are normal). You have got the diabetes under control using insulin, so it will probably stay under control for a while. However, do monitor your BG very carefully when you reduce the dose. If it does go up drastically, then go back to the original dose. You are unlikely to do yourself any harm over the short term - although a sudden increase in BG might make you feel a bit poorly.
 

manxangel

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Loud and brash people and arguments
OMG, you are so helpful! That is a fantastic post! think i will be printing it out.

My GP has taken a back seat in all of this and i am under the care of two great Diabetologists at our hospital and two fantastic DSN. they are really very good (except the reluctance to give me my test results) but you can't have everything.

I am really trying on the Metformin and to be honest even though i feel like **** it does appear to be working. I used to be between 6-7 on waking but the past two days i have been between 5-6 which is good.

I do feel very very rough, i think it is taking it out of me, the SR metformin is the same pills that made me throw up last time but not throwing up just yet even though i really want to.

ohhh thank you for the info about the islet test. it is going to take a month to come back as the tests are done in sheffield. I don't know if my results fit the LADA catogory but from my limited knowledge it seems one of the real possibilites as well as T2 and T1 (going off he idea of being T1 though i seem to be better fitted into the other ones i think) this is just me pure guessing here.

i realyl hope i dont go high again, i'll trust in the knowledge of someone who knows more than me!

the way i have to do it is currently i am on 19unit lantus and 1 metformin. in two weeks i have to take 2 metformin and 12 units of lantus, another two weeks 3 metformin and 6 units, then two weeks and 4 metformin and no Lantus. it is very gradual. I think that was my problem last time. my whole body was messed up because of my high levels and they said right take one a day (no change) then a couple of days later they said take two a day (no change) then a couple of days after that it was straight onto 4, that afternoon i got my script for my insulin as i just couldnt keep em down. but now i'm ok, i think it might work. but slowly does it.

I'm going to get my results if it kills me. then i will get them on here and any advice and help would be great.

Thank you so much!
 

chocoholic

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Messages
831
Diabeticgeek, I'd like to say thank you too for your enormously helpful output on this forum. Your knowledge is astounding and your advice is always given simply, in an understandable and non-judgmental manner. Your posting above, for manxangel, has helped clarify a few things for me too.I know I've said this before but I am eternally grateful to so many of the regular posters on here, you included. Thank you.
 

Jem

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People that feel just because diabates is a life-threatening "illness" it should be treated with kid gloves and nobody is allowed to have a laugh. My humour got me through abuse, near death experiences, serious and debilitating illnesses and lifelong pain and deformity - why give up the thing that works??
WOW Angel, they (hcps) really are putting you through hoops - but it's reassuring to know you have the geek and Fergus and everyone else replying in this thread on your side - it makes me smile to think they're here for you (and the rest of us)

Good luck with getting everything under control and taking care of yourself on your terms!

J/xxx

veena148 said:
Please can someone advice me how I can control this condition with diet only.I am a vegetarian and would like some help in reducing my carbs and love yogurt.Please can someone help.I am due to have my 2nd bloodtest in a couple of weeks and would also like to reduce some weight.

Many Thanks,

It is possible to be vegetarian and successfully reduce your carbohydrate intake ... the books suggested previously are excellent, the Rose Elliot one I have and is invaluable.

When you buy yoghurt make sure it has no added sugar, also fat is not en enemy, a high fat NO sugar yoghurt is tremendously preferablE!!! Also, if you can choose a "live" yoghurt, the healthy bacteria therein will feed off the carbs/sugars present in form of lactose etc and therefore you end up with a very healthy yoghurt. Sainsbury's do a big pot of live Greek yoghurt with an acceptably low carb count, and it's not that expensive :)

I've been vegetarian for 22 years and diabetic for 6 weeks - the two things are most definitely NOT exclusive of one another !

ENJOY

:):):)

don't forget if you eat vegetarian meat subtitutes to check - some have cereal fillers which add to the carb content xxx