Lada

[taxi lee]

Hi all..
Just been diagnosed as having Lada. Was diagnosed late 17 with t2 and managed to get it under control within 6 months.. but then it's just crept up and up and up. Last week ate some junk food. I know I know.. but tested 2 hours after and spiked at 30. So off to doctors I go.. so within a week I've been referred to diabetes specialist. Had new blood tests.. one has cone back and been on glimepiride since last fri.. 2mg. Was told today that its defo Lada and to up my glimepiride to 4mg until other blood tests come back.
What I'm wanting to know is how long before I will be injecting insulin daily? Not got a clue as to how I'd go about doing that.. just all a little scary at the min.. hopefully I will get my sugars under control once I get my meds right.. then maybe start being able to eat other things rather than lettuce and drink other things than water ha ha..

 

[Daibell]

Hi. Sorry to hear about the diagnosis but don't panic about insulin as you soon get used to using it and it really works. Don't allow the docs to keep you on glimepiride for too long. I was kept on Gliclazide (similar drug) for far too long when I should have been on insulin.

 

[Japes]

Hello @taxi lee . Sorry about the diagnosis and I'm not going to make any attenpt to answer the "how long until I go on insulin" question as it varies so much, but...

Honestly, and speaking personally, going on insulin was the best thing for me. I knew in my heart the meds weren't working, but I felt I had to keep trying. I'd spent 3 years struggling to keep my bloods down, minimising carbs to about 20 a day, walking insane amounts to try and keep things under control, getting blamed for "not trying hard enough" and once I got into the hands of the diabetes clinic at my local hospital with a clear LADA diagnosis, it was just so much better for my all-over health. Both mental and physical.

If the meds no longer work and insulin does, it's the right thing for you!

 

[SareN]

I completely echo what the others have said. I was diagnosed in February 2020 but suspect it started in 2018 when my a1c was 6% but dismissed by doctors .
I went on insulin in June (delayed antibody test due to lockdown) and it has completely given me my life back. I have energy again and feel like i finally have some control over my life.
During lockdown I was eating 20g carbs,walking excessively and it rarely worked, it was just a nightmare.
Don't get me wrong, I have days now where things go wrong but all in all I feel the happiest I've felt in a long time. Don't fear insulin, you can keep doing most normal things....you just need to plan more and carry more stuff around with you. (Sweets, lucozade,biscuits are everywhere for me now)

 

[EllieM]

I would argue that T1s have a lot more dietary freedom than T2s. While insulin can be a pain (and I'm talking hypos rather than injections) and blood monitoring a nuisance, a T1 has a lot more control over their condition than a T2, who really has only low carb available as a treatment if they don't want to get on the medical bandwagon of increasing meds followed eventually by insulin (probably in much larger doses than you will ever need). And modern technology for diabetics is amazing.

Good luck. Insulin is your life-saving friend.