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Progression from diagnosis to insulin? How long?

Flakey Bake

Flakey Bake

Well-Known Member
Messages
160
Location
Scotland
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi, I am relatively new (probable) type 2. I was diagnosed a year and a half ago at age 37 with a random BG of 29. After starting metaformin and glipizide I got my diabetes and diet under control, lost 4 stone and was almost at the point of stopping all medication. I thought I had it all sorted. Then something went very wrong. This last few months my BG has risen sharply and so has my medication. I now take metaformin, glipizide and sitagliptin (average BG is now 14). I am likely to start on injectable medication in the next month or so. I'm not sure how I am going to cope with juggling work, childcare and commuting with insulin. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed and honestly, a little bit cheated, I was expecting to have a few years managing on tablets. Best laid plans eh! What I would like to know is this a normal progression rate or is there a chance something autoimmune could be going on here? The docs just assume I am type 2 because I was overweight. Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers
 
Hi. Yes, quite worrying. It sounds possible that you are actually a Late onset Type 1 not T2. Some people have both insulin resistance due to being overweight and also have auto-immune Type 1. A GAD test might help confirm the Type 1. Many GPs, like mine, just assume you are Type 2 (I was underweight at diagnosis but much older) without any tests. So, normally T2 may go for many years without injections but not if you are nearer to T1. I went onto insulin after 9 years 3 months ago, but should have moved over 2 years ago but was refused. I'm only on once-a-day which is where you may start. That is dead easy as it's done at bedtime. Obviously if the diabetes progresses then you would need more than one-a-day but with a bit of luck the progression will be slow.
 
Daibell said:
Hi. Yes, quite worrying. It sounds possible that you are actually a Late onset Type 1 not T2. Some people have both insulin resistance due to being overweight and also have auto-immune Type 1. A GAD test might help confirm the Type 1. Many GPs, like mine, just assume you are Type 2 (I was underweight at diagnosis but much older) without any tests. So, normally T2 may go for many years without injections but not if you are nearer to T1. I went onto insulin after 9 years 3 months ago, but should have moved over 2 years ago but was refused. I'm only on once-a-day which is where you may start. That is dead easy as it's done at bedtime. Obviously if the diabetes progresses then you would need more than one-a-day but with a bit of luck the progression will be slow.
Click to expand...

Thanks Daibell. I don't think I quite fit clearly into either catagory. I think I am progressing very quickly, which I am quite narked about as I have tried so hard. I know I will adjust to an insulin/byetta regime, whatever that will entail for me. I will ask about GAD testing. Cheers :wave:
 
I too went from being diagnosised to insulin very quickly
I was prescribed Champix in March 2011 at the end of April I spoke to nurse about hourly trips to toilet during night she took blood said to ring following week to get results 2 days later I had phone call off Dr asking me to see him straight away told bg was high 30's started on metformin , 2 weeks later bg still over 30 increased dose to Max and added gliclazide 80mg x 2 daily, month later bg still in high 20's , admitted to hospital with ketones, was put on Lantus increasing dose by 3 units every 3 days month later bg still in teens so was put on novorapid . Slowly managed to decrease Lantus and now rarely have bg over 9 ,
Was 38 at diagnosis Dr still says type 2????????

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I was diagnosed as type 2 back in March of this year. Two months later when my first appointment to see my diabetes clinic occured I was re-diagnosed as type 1. I was immediately put onto insulin 4x per day and am in the process of getting the balance right to find the correct levels for me.

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Just to update you. I have now been re-diagnosed as type 1. I am starting to settle onto the basal bolus regime. Hopefully I will get on a dafne course soon and really get control. Thanks for the replies.
 
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