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Jensman

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi everyone and thanks for the add. Hoping to get a bit of advice. I was diagnosed with T2 30 years ago and am now 63. Originally I was diet controlled but had to start metformin to keep things under control. I was on metformin till last year when I was told I could come off it and go back to being diet controlled which was brilliant news. A couple of months ago my hba1c was coming back slightly raised but not enough to be a concern. 2 weeks ago I was asked to do some finger prick testing at home as my hba1c was still increasing. My BSL’s were coming back around 12 to 13 but I also had them coming in low at around 3.9. The diabetic nurse now thinks I’m possibly T1. I have to go for a “special” blood test to test my antibodies and see what’s happening. Anyway the advice I’m asking is how much of a game changer is this if it does come back T1. I don’t drink, don’t smoke and my diet is good. I’m actually quite scared at the moment as there was a lot of “umming “ and “ahhhing” from the diabetes nurse.
 
I think you probably could do with antibodies and c-peptide tests. Antibodies testing may or may not pick up an issue. C-peptide will give an indication of how much insulin your body is producing (aim to have blood glucose of around 7mmol/l for the test).
If you are type 1 you will require insulin.
With LADA the rate of destruction of beta cells varies with some having to start on insulin relatively quickly while others may not get to the point of requiring insulin.

Suggest you get the testing so the most appropriate treatment can be established.

You are clearly still at a point where your body is producing some insulin otherwise you would not get a blood glucose reading of 3.9 mmol/l.
 
I think you probably could do with antibodies and c-peptide tests. Antibodies testing may or may not pick up an issue. C-peptide will give an indication of how much insulin your body is producing (aim to have blood glucose of around 7mmol/l for the test).
If you are type 1 you will require insulin.
With LADA the rate of destruction of beta cells varies with some having to start on insulin relatively quickly while others may not get to the point of requiring insulin.

Suggest you get the testing so the most appropriate treatment can be established.

You are clearly still at a point where your body is producing some insulin otherwise you would not get a blood glucose reading of 3.9 mmol/l.
Thank you. I did wonder about my low blood reading and thought I must still be producing insulin. I have my appointment on Tuesday so hopefully it will put my mind at rest and my hba1c will lower itself too (currently 68 I’ve been told)
 
Thank you. I did wonder about my low blood reading and thought I must still be producing insulin. I have my appointment on Tuesday so hopefully it will put my mind at rest and my hba1c will lower itself too (currently 68 I’ve been told)
To be honest after 30 years you were never T1 or LADA to begin with - you wouldn't have survived as a T1 for that long without insulin, just doesn't happen

Theoretically you may have 'gained' T1/LADA recently to go along with your T2, but that's quite rare afaik
 
low at around 3.9. The diabetic nurse now thinks I’m possibly T1
3.9 is not particularly unusual for someone not on insulin or some other drug that aggressively lowers glucose levels. If you were misdiagnosed 30 years ago and only now your beta cell are dying off in sufficient number's to cause you problems. Then it's extremely doubtful that your levels would ever be that low.

lot of “umming “ and “ahhhing” from the diabetes nurse
The "diabetic nurse" at most gp practices are just the nurses that have been tasked to deal with diabetic patients. They usually don't have any special training and although I've met a few who are really on the ball, many of them are not the experts we think they should be.
After 30 years of T2 it's hardly surprising that your levels have changed, after all most Dr's consider T2 to be progressive.
Could it be that your insulin resistance and your ability to handle carbohydrates has got worse over the years.
Maybe your diet, even though you describe it as good, now has too many carbs resulting in higher levels
 
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