Length of your honeymoon period

[TypeZero.]

Newly diagnosed here about 3 months in and no change in insulin requirements apart from NovoRapid according to carb content of meals which is normal. Moderate intake of 14 units of Lantus whilst my body weight is 60kg.

Just wanted to ask how long did your honeymoon periods last? Just curious because my endo wants me to finish my honeymoon then do a course so I can get a pump, he literally suggested it to me without me even saying it but I really would like a pump. I’ve done so much research regarding it.

He wants to consider a pump 2021 with me but if my honeymoon ends sooner then there’s no reason for him to not streamline the process and he said he will “go through a few hoops” to obtain funding for my FreeStyle Libre which is great!!!

Not going to lie I’m quite pleased with my endo but we’ve got to see. He might be all talk and no action.

So how long did your honeymoons last? My endo did say my GAD antibodies were really high but not the highest he has seen. I have a GAD antibodies level of 713u/mL. I asked my dietician and endo whether the honeymoon would end suddenly or slowly over time but I received no clear answer.

Did your honeymoon end suddenly like overnight, few days or in a week or did it end slowly over time like weeks, months and years

 

[ert]

You could ask for a c-peptide test.
My c-peptide went from 0.17 nmol/l OGTT (less than 0.2 nmol/l OGTT on diagnosis is classified as type 1) to 0.078 (trace insulin) within 2 years. I had 2 spikes of GAD antibodies at the beginning and the end of that time.
The course you mention is likely to be DAFNE (dose adjustment for normal eating). You don't have to wait until your honeymoon ends to do this. It's also useful, in the meantime

 

[TypeZero.]

You could ask for a c-peptide test.
My c-peptide went from 0.17 nmol/l OGTT (less than 0.2 nmol/l OGTT on diagnosis is classified as type 1) to 0.078 (trace insulin) within 2 years. I had 2 spikes of GAD antibodies at the beginning and the end of that time.
The course you mention is likely to be DAFNE (dose adjustment for normal eating). You don't have to wait until your honeymoon ends to do this. It's also useful, in the meantime

So did your honeymoon last for 2 years or more?

When did your long acting insulin dose increase?

And when it increased was it suddenly or gradually?

I’ve read somewhere that diabetics have residual insulin production and C peptide never usually becomes 0 so how would they distinguish between what is overt T1D and honeymoon period?

My honeymoon is not even that good. My endo said he saw a similar case to mine and the patient only took short acting insulin which is great. I got told off for being too good of a diabetic and that I’m at a very very high risk of diabetic burnout— checking Libre 70 times a day and average HbA1c of 6%.

If the course does not require honeymoon to be over then on my next appointment I’m going to ask to be quickly referred to a DAFNE course centre

 

[ert]

So did your honeymoon last for 2 years or more?

When did your long acting insulin dose increase?

And when it increased was it suddenly or gradually?

I’ve read somewhere that diabetics have residual insulin production and C peptide never usually becomes 0 so how would they distinguish between what is overt T1D and honeymoon period?

My honeymoon is not even that good. My endo said he saw a similar case to mine and the patient only took short acting insulin which is great. I got told off for being too good of a diabetic and that I’m at a very very high risk of diabetic burnout— checking Libre 70 times a day and average HbA1c of 6%.

If the course does not require honeymoon to be over then on my next appointment I’m going to ask to be quickly referred to a DAFNE course centre

I started insulin two years after I was diagnosed. I refused insulin for as long as I could. I ate one carb-free meal a day and ran. I was monitored by a specialist but had to walk into A & E, with high blood sugars and ketones, that wouldn't come down, at the end of my honeymoon. I'm really insulin sensitive, so haven't increased my background insulin. I take about 6 units a day (split into 4 units on waking and 2 at bedtime). I still often only eat once a day. And I still run: I ran for 1 hour 40 minutes today. The more exercise I do, the less insulin I need. My c-peptide supports absolute insulin deficiency, so I'm not in honeymoon. The labs can't measure c-peptide below 0.078 nmol/l. That's as low as it goes, which means you aren't producing any. I've been on insulin for one year now.

 

[kev-w]

There wasn't a honeymoon period or gad antibodies in the 80's but I've read that exercise can prolong it for around 5 years and I'd reckon it took me around that long to settle.

 

[TypeZero.]

How long it takes for insulin production to shut down completely depends mostly on two things. Age at diagnosis and the level of blood glucose control. Diagnosis in adulthood usually means a longer honeymoon, and it can continue for many years. On the other hand, blood glucose toxicity kills remaining beta cells, shortening the honeymoon. Trace c-peptide is found in people who have had T1 for 30+ years, showing they still produce some insulin. These people are usually well controlled and have fewer complications.

My neighbour, who now uses my old pump, still makes much of his own insulin after 17 years of T1. His HBA1c is always in the 30's, so he doesn't qualify for a funded pump. But he really needs one because he is very active and he needs to suspend insulin action during exercise. It is a bit of a catch 22 situation.

I wouldn't move onto a pump as long as MDI gives satisfactory control. Having switched back to MDI, my control is now better than ever. I also like being able to remount my surfski without worrying about the pump. So I probably won't use a pump again. Don't wish away your honeymoon. It is a closing window of opportunity and using it wisely improves lifetime prognosis.

Well I’m 18 but have been losing weight since the age of 17 so have had it for about 1-1.5 years before I realised there’s something wrong with me. Most T1Ds are diagnosed 10-14 so I suppose I would have a longer honeymoon than someone younger than me. I am managing it really well, but a bit too well. Starting to lose hypo awareness when I’m only 3 months in. Sometimes I won’t feel a 3.2 or even a 2.7 depending on how fast my BG crashed.

Really don’t know what my CCG requirements are for a pump but it was my first appointment with my endo and he was like “would you consider going on a pump” so I suppose the chances are great for me because why would he recommend it so quickly? From the way he spoke it sounded like he’s 70% there in securing funding for my Libre and pump but I’m not putting my hopes up in case I get rejected for both. He also just gave a free Libre sensor away.

MDI is fine but just not convenient for people like me who snack all day. I’m already tired of putting on needles and injecting. My whole life is literally me poking myself with foreign objects. My daily routine: hypo, snack, hyper, insulin , repeat.

Always something that causes a hypo, even just walking around the house or doing cleaning, or walking to shops. If I’ve had an insulin injection in the last hour then my BG would just go down and down and down with the smallest physical activity. Pumps allow suspension of insulin delivery by connecting to a CGM which helps avoid lows. My basal is fine I’ve had carb-free meals with no NovoRapid and I seem to do fine unless I’m doing crazy amounts of exercise at the gym. It’s the NovoRapid that’s the problem especially NovoRapid + any sort of physical activity. I know I could give myself 1 less unit but you can’t predict what you are going to do. I don’t plan to go to the supermarket an hour ahead, I just go when I want to. You could always take a pump-free holiday if you don’t like it, my career and lifestyle doesn’t require anything that physical apart from a gym twice a week.

My honeymoon is annoying me though. My honeymoon is not good enough for me to get off insulin but it is also lasting quite some time which is preventing me from getting the equipment I need

 

[Juicyj]

@TypeZero. I believe my honeymoon lasted about 10 months and then gradually my doses increased, I found the honeymoon very hard to manage as it meant my control was high/low on some days which left me mentally drained, not having ultimate control over your blood glucose levels because your pancreas still pumps some insulin into your system can be draining, and although it was useful to start on low doses and even take 1/2 units here and there it was also good to be out of it. I spoke to a Diabetes specialist about the honeymoon as I was involved in research during my first 6 months of being diagnosed and he advised that keeping levels in control as much as possible would lessen the stress on the pancreas and would help extend the honeymoon. I think I was going through a stage of denial as I was hoping to find the holy grail at this point to keep my beta cells alive

 

[karen8967]

mine lasted for about 8/10 months

 

[Rokaab]

This reply probably wont be much help for you but I suspect mine hardly lasted anytime at all, mainly cos I was diagnosed when very young - I was about 2, and I think very small kids dont get much of one anyway (though I could be wrong)
Though to be honest home blood glucose testing didn't exist at the time, so not sure it could easily be tracked at any rate.