Not sure which type I am

Hi there from Taiwan,

My new doctor suspects I might have LADA or T1 based on the fact that my c-peptide level is a bit low (0.65 / normal value: 09.-7.1) and I am not obese. She is not sure for now because I haven't got tested for GAD and other autoimmune tests. I read that most LADA patients are diagnosed after 25 to 30 years of age and become completely insulin dependent within 6 years. Since I was first diagnosed with diabetes at 18, I don't fit into that age group. Also, 6 or 7 years have passed. No classic symptoms show. My diabetes seems to be still in control.

So far I have read a lot of articles about MODY-2, and I suspect I might have it. I first found I had mild hyperglycemia when I was 18 during a routine examination for first year students in college. At that time, My fasting BG was 134 mg/dl and my HbA1C was 7.2. This was the first time in my life I had my BG tested, so I don't have records prior to that.

I am 24 years old now. All doctors I saw over the past 6 years suggested I control my BG with low carb diet and regular exercise, so I did. Long-term records show that my fasting BG and HbA1C always hover around 130 and 7, no matter how hard I try.

As for family history, my mom, 3 of my uncles, my grandfather, and my great-grand mother were all diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I suspect my mom has MODY too. She has diabetes for about 25 years. Her fasting BG and HbA1C didn't worsen over time, and are quite similar to mine. She changed her oral medications a few times, but there was no significant improvement.

catherinecherub said:

Hi @lewislviola

I do not know if they have any centres for Genetic Testing in Taiwan.
We have one in Exeter which has a lot of information about MODY.

Use the links on the left for more information.
http://www.diabetesgenes.org/


I'll bump your post up to see if anyone has any information for you.

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@catherinecherub

Yes, most information I learned about MODY came from that website.
I also emailed the Kovler Diabetes Center at the University of Chicago.
The director there said it might be MODY, but the key is to have my DNA, and best my mom's as well, tested.
Thanks for your help!

Daibell said:

Hi. Yes, MODY is always a possibility. LADA can come on at any age and at any speed. It took me 10 years to reach insulin going thru full tablet regime along the way and low-carbing and being thin throughout. Not being overweight and also being young are strong pointers to LADA but as you say MODY is possible. My c-peptide was very low but GAD was negative. There are many causes of beta cell failure including viruses, pancreatitis etc in addition to the auto-immune causes. In some ways the actual diagnosis is irrelevant as the treatment paths are similar i.e. diet, then tablets and then insulin when needed. I believe MODY is more variable and hence more difficult to manage?

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@Daibell

Do you have a family history of diabetes? For me, my fasting and HbA1C are so similar to my mom's for many years. She has been complaining why her oral medications didn't work even though she took the highest dose. But her diabetes didn't deteriorate either.

If it really is MODY 2, then tables are not necessary because MODY 2 is not caused by insulin resistance or deficiency; rather, the threshold of insulin secretion is set higher. That being said, I guess the only way to find out is through DNA testing.