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Positive anti-GAD antibodies

AmyGreen

AmyGreen

Active Member
Messages
28
Location
Bingham, Nottingham
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I'll keep this short. I'm diabetic but currently the hospital is on the fence as to Type 1 or Type 2.
I'm currently 26 (diagnosed when 25 and very early into a pregnancy) and now I am about a stone/stone and a half overweight (had my baby 10 weeks ago and I put on approx 2.5 stone) and was on insulin during the pregnancy.
I know to answer this question properly, symptoms/scenarios differ from person to person, but I had a recent blood test done (apparently testing for anti gad antibodies) and this came back a strong positive (how strong I don't know, back at hospital on Friday to discuss with them anyway) and just wondered does this automatically mean Type 1.5 (LADA). I also had a test done for islet? cells and this was negative (so then they thought more Type 2).

Just would like an in sight if possible
 
Hi Amy, you sound just like me and st4cey! Im 26 too and had GD.

According to my consultant about a third of people with type 2 can show positive for GAD antibodies but its rare and usually a positive GAD result coupled with a fasting BG of over 7 mmol on two separate occasions is diagnostic of LADA! So my opinion,which is just an opinion, is that they will give you a LADA diagnosis....it's good though because so many people go years thinking they're type 2 and really they're not! Welcome to the forum :-)


Diagnosed with GD in 2010, Completely disappeared postpartum. Re-diagnosed December 2012 with type 1.5 diabetes, age 26, BMI 23 currently controlled by only Metformin, 500mg twice a day.
 
Hi elaine, thanks for the reply.
I've got a bit of reading to do as I found someone else had asked a similar question. From what I have read so far I think they will say it's Type 1.5. I've got the positive anti GAD antibodies and have fasting bs of more than 7. I think initially they would go down the route of metformin first (although we want to try for another baby again soon so I think insulin may be better). I took insulin during this pregnancy and was ok. Baby born 5lb 11.
Again from what I've read (might be wrong) but with the antibodies its means at some point I will go onto insulin anyway so I've got the opinion to go on it now rather than later. Maybe thats the wrong attitude to have, but it's how I feel at the moment. I think I've read someone on another question that currently you are trying to stay off insulin for as long as you can. Until I see them on Friday it's what I would prefer but it all comes down to what there diagnosis is for me (if they have reached one or not).

Anyway I'm just hoping tomorrow goes fast so it can be Friday and I see what they say.
Thank you for your reply.
 
Hi Amy,

It's not the wrong attitude to have at all I think insulin is a majorly personal thing for everyone and thats how you're feeling, like many people. If there was a bit more evidence to support the fact that going onto insulin sooner preserves beta cells long term then I would probably have gone straight onto it but as it stands I suppose I feel as though I want to continue with a life as close to normal as possible for as long as I can because once I am on insulin I'm on it for the rest of my life :-(.

It's also the amount of declaring I would have to do if I was on insulin, DVLA, travel insurance, life insurance etc etc... And I just don't think I'm ready for all of that. Metformin is a good drug even taken alongside insulin so you might not have to choose between them but if I was to get pregnant again I'm pretty sure I would be on insulin straight away.... My son was 9lb 11oz and was 3 weeks early so goodness knows what size another baby would be!


Diagnosed with GD in 2010, Completely disappeared postpartum. Re-diagnosed December 2012 with type 1.5 diabetes, age 26, BMI 23 currently controlled by only Metformin, 500mg twice a day.
 
All I can do now is wait to see what they say tomorrow. I'm hoping they can give me my diagnosis, but probably not. Can I ask, have you been given a clear you are Type 1.5/1 etc?

Another thing with me and metformin (I think there are other ones as well) is that it didn't lower my sugars last time, so another reason why they may put me straight on to insulin. Also they might not think my figures are too high. I would think they would, but they may not be overly concerned at the moment. I think I'll be throwing in that I want to be pregnant again soon to scue in their thoughts as well.

Ah well I don't like being simple, hehe.
 
Nope no diagnosis, they have me down as 'type unknown' because for some reason the only types that are actually medically recognised are type 1 and type 2 so until I'm insulin dependent I basically don't get an official diagnosis but my consultant refers to me as Type 1.5/LADA it just isn't on the medical stuff. The only problem you may have is if you're levels are in a good range, then they might not allow insulin because it would leave you at high risk of hypos all the time if you're levels are fine without it...I learnt this today after having 'the chat' lol


Diagnosed with GD in 2010, Completely disappeared postpartum. Re-diagnosed December 2012 with type 1.5 diabetes, age 26, BMI 23 currently controlled by only Metformin, 500mg twice a day.
 
I personally don't think my levels are good. Its been 10 weeks since I had my daughter and I controlled it very well during pregnancy (she was born 38 weeks plus 4 at 5lb 11) and I know this was only diagnosed during pregnancy. Since then my levels have been creeping up and up. I'm not on a particulary low carb diet, but make so much better choices than I did only a year ago and if I have any sweet stuff they go through the roof. I've read you struggle with your fasting bs and mine is often 7, sometimes 8 and as I'm not testing after meals at the moment I can only imagine they are bad as before bed, so it's often been 2/3 hours if not more since eating and i've been 12/13, once even as high as 19.
I given in tonight and I'm eating a bag of malteasers. I'm dreading doing my reading before bed.
 
Are you on my medication at the moment? I discussed my morning reading today as its always between 7 and 8 mmol and my consultant said that's exactly what it should be when you're a diabetic and any lower and it would be in non-diabetic ranges so it made me feel better about that.... Usually they wouldn't recommend starting you on Insulin until you've tried diet and Metformin first as that combination usually works really well but really it's more about diet. You need to change diet even on Insulin with many type 1s swearing by low carbing and I would always think diet plus tablets would be better and easier than diet plus insulin as the hypos can be really dangerous...probably especially if you are planning on being pregnant...


Diagnosed with GD in 2010, Completely disappeared postpartum. Re-diagnosed December 2012 with type 1.5 diabetes, age 26, BMI 23 currently controlled by only Metformin, 500mg twice a day.
 
I'm currently not taking anything. I was on insulin though during pregnancy. I generally have been low carbing at the moment (today not a good day) and still high readings. From reading through more posts I do think they would say diet and tablets first but as me and my husband want to try as soon as we can (and we are in a position to) for another baby. It's just waiting to see what they say tomorrow. Plus I did the diet and low carbing before, lost 4lbs in a week and blood sugars were still high. Not sure though how long they give for metformin to kick in and seeing as I took it for only 5 days during pregnancy and it wasn't working, they needed me to go on insulin as they needed my figures lowered asap.
 
Yeh they're so much more careful during pregnancy - and rightly so.

They usually say to wait at least two weeks to see the effects of the meds and they're right as I recently switched from standard Metformin to the slow release type and my levels shot up to 10-11 mmol only to come back down again 3 days later.... If you're trying to get pregnant though they might just put you onto insulin anyway as they know you need it when pregnant..I'm sure they will listen to what you want it's just that because hypos are so dangerous they will probably want to be confident that you are very hypo aware especially when pregnant.


Diagnosed with GD in 2010, Completely disappeared postpartum. Re-diagnosed December 2012 with type 1.5 diabetes, age 26, BMI 23 currently controlled by only Metformin, 500mg twice a day.
 
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