Re-Diagnosed

Hi there, if you google GAD or search on this website you will find some more info. It is essentially detecting antibodies that are responsible for causing your pancreas to produce insufficient amounts of insulin to regulate your blood sugar.

I am in the process of being diagnosed with late onset type 1 or LADA/Type 1.5 and heading towards Victoza injectable before the last resort of insulin. Frankly gimme the insulin, feed up with feeling like ****.

You have done well to get your levels down yourself. Just be careful you don't have hypos because sometimes when you start on insulin you can have a honeymoon period where your own production of insulin is erratic and then you have too much floating around.

Can you get some decent advice via a Doc or diabetes specialist nurse that speaks fluent English? Really you need to know an awful lot more than you do to be safe.

Best of luck.

Ali

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/gad-antibody-test.html

Here's a linky for you.

There is a good book called "think like a pancreas" that is available from Amazon and gives a good understanding of type 1.

Ali

The test as others have said tests an antibody. The high level of GAD antibodies (and your weight loss) suggests that your diabetes is caused by an autoimmune attack on your islet cells. This is Type 1 diabetes.
At the moment you are insulin deficient but the amount of insulin you produce will become less over time.
This process can take some time. If you are young it may be only a short time to real insulin dependence but in older adults, it can sometimes take a few years.(LADA) This means that it is possible , as you have found to manage with oral medications and diet for a while but ultimately you would need insulin.
It is quite common in many parts of Europe to do an antiGAD test and if positive start insulin immediately.There are many researchers that feel that introducing insulin at diagnosis helps preserve some insulin production for longer. Certainly it may make the condition easier to manage.
This site tells you something about LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes in adults)

http://www.locallada.swan.ac.uk/faq.html

I think I am right in saying that in Type 1.5/LADA/slow onset type 1 in adults then the CPep is usually low to normal and the GAD has a high antibody reading. Yes, as your immune system attacks your beta cells your insulin production will decrease over time.

But you really must get some decent advice with a translator etc to ensure you use your meds safely and don't have hypos etc. Don't know what the driving laws are there but we have to tell DVLA if we commence insulin use. Make sure you are au fait with your local laws, also notify the car insurance company etc.

Ali