Odd type "2"

Is there a reason why type 1 has been discounted. If your body is not producing enough insulin, this sounds like type 1 or LADA.
Being an adult is not a reason for assuming type 2 - over 50% of people with type 1 are diagnosed over the age of 20.

From my understanding, LADA is like type 1 but the symptoms come on slower which is why it is often confused with type 2.

As for why, I don't think diabetes is well enough understood to answer your question: there are some things such as diabetes in your family and lifestyle which can increase the risk if diabetes but just as there are thin people with no family history of diabetes, there are others who are overweight and the only one in the family without diabetes.
To me, answering the question "why?" doesn't make any difference: the important question to me is "what now?"

Hi @chrisdoh1983

Do you know what all the tests were, and what the results were? This is important information, as without this information you are in the dark completely. You need to ask for full details of all the tests, obtaining a print out is the best way, and a copy of any letters the specialist has sent/is sending to your GP. How does he know you are not T1? What tests is his diagnosis of T2 based on?

chrisdoh1983 said:

Hi,

Thanks to anyone who reads this.

I've been on treatment as a type 2 for 4 years now, i was 30 at the time and not the usual type 2 patient.

I'm on metformin and also linaglipten, i was also on gliclazide for a while.

At the meeting with the specialist this morning, he's decided to put me on insulin, said i'd only need to take it once a day.

He's ran all sorts of tests on me, had my blood sent away for genetic and molecular tests, nothing has came back to explain why i have diabetes, there's no family history at all, AT ALL. Everytime i go he always asks me about family history of it.

He said i was an odd type 2 patient, i wasnt type 1 but my body is not producing enough insulin. I am totally floored with it all and quite upset about going on insulin. i dont know why im so upset, guess i'm still a bit shocked, so excuse any spelling or grammar mistakes on this post.

I just would like to know why i'm diabetic, i havent had any answers in nearly 5 years but i suppose theyve ran the tests and nothing has cam e back, guess i'm just a freak.

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There are many precursors to type 2. I had a few of them myself. I had genetics, PCOS, and at the time of diagnosis I was also overweight. I no longer produce much insulin and have to be on insulin therapy these days. One interesting thing my endocrinologist mentioned to me is that if you have one hormone condition, it's possible to get other hormonal conditions. He also explained to me that blood pressure and cholesterol are controlled by hormones and that's why they like to control these 2 things in diabetics. So don't know your medical history, and sometimes we just don't get answers as to why we have a particular disease. I have a few diseases that noone can explain why I've got them. Then again noone can explain the cause of them either. It is frustrating so I understand where you're coming from. I wish you the best.

I am not sure what is meant by not the usual type 2. about 15% of type 2's are slim. Many (I dont know the actual proportion) of type 1 and type 2 have no family history. You can become a type 1 at any age.

Maybe you could talk to your specialist with a list of questions about your test result, as they seem to be making some assumptions which may not be up to date.

chrisdoh1983 said:

Thanks for the info guys.

I just have always been treated as T2, I never knew much and still only know a little about the condition, i was told to take the metformin and carry on. My levels have always been on the high side but lately they are getting worse. I wouldnt know where to start with getting or understanding the results.

The nurses at the clinic will phone me in the next week or so to get me in and sort out the insulin.

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You have been diabetic for 4 years, which means you must have had a lot of review blood tests - HbA1c etc. You could do with knowing these levels. You need to know if you have had a C-Peptide test and a GAD test, or even a fasting insulin test as these are all markers in diagnosis, and what the results were. You can find out by asking.

Could it be your diet that is making your levels increase to the stage where you need insulin?

I went through lots of battles to get my true diagnosis.
Eventually, after lots of hospital tests, I was diagnosed with Reactive Hypoglycaemia.
Only one guy knew this condition, he was my specialist endocrinologist.
Only one person on this forum knew what it was!

It is unusual to not get a definitive diagnosis, it is not unusual to get a number of conditions because your endocrine system is complicated and they don't know all the answers. Most GPs struggle with diabetes and other more rarer metabolic conditions.

This is why is not the most important of questions. Though it is always there!
Why me! I have no idea!

Unfortunately it has happened, regardless of diagnosis.
The real question is, What can I do to get control of the condition?

Well, you can learn, you can look around this forum, you can search the information, you can ask questions, you can ask for advice, you can change that negative into a positive. You will learn about how diabetics control their type of diabetes, and there are many, you will get the tools to change your life. And most importantly, you could find your question on why!