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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
 
Hey Amy, if you look in the type 1 forum I recently posted about this as I'm in the same situation as you - there's some really useful replies from peeps on here in that thread that you may find useful too... It's good your Dr's/hospital are being consistent in helping you and following up so quickly - I found out my gad test result about two weeks ago (which was *very* high - 1,600 (normal range below 5)) and I've not got a hospital apt to see my consultant until August... I'd be very interested to know what they say to you on Friday, if you feel you can share... Either way, good luck x
 
Hi. Assuming your diabetes isn't directly related to your pregnancy, I would assume LADA Type 1.5 as you would be very young for T2 and the GAD result is obviously indicative. Interesting ref the islet cell test; I'm not sure exactly what this tests for compared with GAD. The proof of the pudding as they say will depend on your ongoing insulin needs. You imply this has now been stopped so are you on any diabetes tablets and are you monitoring your blood sugar with a meter? I'm not a doctor so can't comment on whether there are any pregnancy related aspects to your diagnosis and the GAD result.
 
Thanks Sunshine_Kisses I noticed after I'd posted my question.

Hey Daibell. In short yes I'm not taking insulin at the moment (on some occassions i have when my bs have been very high - my DN did advise it's ok for me to do this) and I'm testing in the morning and before bed and sometimes before meals. I only took metformin during my pregnancy for about 5 days but my sugars were still too high so put me on insulin, slow release and fast for meals.

Thank you both for your comments. I've got a bit of reading to do. From what I have read so far I think they will say it's Type 1.5 and maybe 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.

Anyway I'm just hoping tomorrow goes fast so it can be Friday and I see what they say.
Thanks guys.
 
Hi. The general opinion with Type 1.5 is to go onto insulin sooner rather than later as it has very few side effects compared with tablets (Met is OK) and does the job and is controllable. I was on just tablets for 7 years before adding insulin with my 'T2' and it's not easy to control with just tablets if your pancreas is failing.
 
I never understand why people say the pancreas is failing.....it isn't failing, the cells within it are being killed by something completely unrelated to the pancreas...poor pancreases getting all the blame! Lol.

As mentioned in your other thread Amy, if you have tried Metformin and diet and still can't control BS levels then I'm sure your doctors will advise insulin but, like I mentioned in the other thread, today my consultant told me that going onto insulin sooner has no proven benefits and won't slow down the destruction of the beta cells so it really is just a matter of how good/bad your control is. He told me he wouldn't put me on insulin even if I wanted it as my levels are not high enough and the risk of hypos is not one to be take lightly and insulin is actually more risky than the medication with regard to causing hypos.....

I'm sure your doctors will ask you questions about your diet and your control and make the best decision though :-)


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. One or two comments on your doctors views. First, moving onto insulin from tablets would be once or possibly twice a day Basal insulin. It's quite easy to avoid hypos with just once a day. I currently have morning readings between 3.2, my lowest, and 4.n on my once a day. I could reduce my number of units if I wanted to completely avoid the risk; I started slight hypo symptoms today at 3.2 so now know my limits and I'm always at home at the lowest point. Gliclazide is a common tablet given to T2s and is suspected of speeding the death of islet cells although this is not proven, so there is a downside to that tablet. Apart form that, yes it all depends on how well the tablets are working together with diet.
 
Yes that gliclazide is evil to beta cells! Lol they put me on it when first diagnosed and after 2 weeks I demanded to be taken off it as it wasn't working and now I know why! You can't get a workman to do a job without his tools no matter how hard you push him....u can't get a pancreas to produce insulin without enough beta cells no matter how hard you push it....! I meant Metformin, sorry I should have made that clearer..


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 but I think you did mean Gliclazide not Metformin ref you last sentence? Metformin has no effect on the pancreas and is not known as a problem drug but Glic does prod the pancreas islet cells when they exist. I'm planning to stop mine as it seems a bit pointless when taking insulin.
 
No I meant in my first post when I said meds are lower risk than insulin for hypos I meant Metformin as it doesn't cause hypos, not gliclazide, I know gliclazide can cause hypos


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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