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Sitting in Limbo

Zeebee81

Zeebee81

Member
Messages
8
Hi everyone. So I’m 37 and have recently been diagnosed with diabetes at the beginning of February. My BMI is fine as is my blood pressure and cholesterol results. I found out my hba1c result was 51. I then had another blood test 2 weeks later and this time I had 4 tubes taken. My hba1c this time was 53 so the doc says I’m definitely diabetic but I’m still waiting on which type. He reckons it’s looking like type 1 due to my age and all the other factors and said something about one of the results being on the low side. He’s still waiting on 2 of the other special tests he did, though I’ve no idea what these are and wish I’d asked now.
Tomorrow I’m having yet another blood test but a fasting one this time. My next appointment with the doctor is a week today so I’m assuming I’ll get all the info about my diagnosis then.
I guess I’m wondering is it normal to wait so long before finding out what’s going on?
 
My diagnosis was much faster, when the doctor eventually got around to telling me, but my Hba1c was 91, and I was much older.
Your elevated Hba1c has been picked up far earlier, so perhaps the apparent lack of urgency is simply to be sure of a correct diagnosis and treatment appropriate to you right from the start.
 
Welcome to the forum @Zeebee81. A Type 2 diagnosis is usually fairly quick, within a week or two. But if further tests are needed to determine if you might be Type 1 that can take a bit longer.
Actually you might be fortunate in a way that your doctor has recognised you might be Type 1 and is getting further tests done.
Some gps seem to assume that anyone who isn't diagnosed as Type 1 in childhood, or as young adults, must be Type 2.
And they might not be recognised as Type 1 until months or even years later.
 
Hi @Zeebee81 welcome to the forum. The 2 tests are probably GAD and c-peptide to see if your body is effectively producing antibodies to fight it's own GAD cells and how much insulin you are producing.

Regardless of which type you have, or a possible variant, 2019 means control is within your grasp with the levels of wisdom and expertise in the community. My advice would be to wait for your results, and obtain route 1 help from the persons on this site.
 
Thank you for your replies. It was actually a bit of a shock as I originally went for a routine dental appointment. He informed me my gums were inflamed and asked if I had diabetes in the family. Told me to get checked. Even my doctor was shocked they came back I am in fact diabetic.
 
Zeebee81 said:
Thank you for your replies. It was actually a bit of a shock as I originally went for a routine dental appointment. He informed me my gums were inflamed and asked if I had diabetes in the family. Told me to get checked. Even my doctor was shocked they came back I am in fact diabetic.
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Hiya, don’t be disappointed if it still takes a while to get a formal diagnosis.

I was diagnosed on 1 November 2018 as diabetic but even since having the additional blood tests, I still don’t have a ‘type’ although I am now on long and short acting insulin. And so the tests continue.......

Best of luck with everything !
 
Just be sure to ask for print outs of all your blood test results. That way you know exactly what the results were and are not at the mercy of a doctor - doctors frequently filter out information they think you won't understand and say things such as "normal" or "fine" or similar. You need to know exactly, because you may be "normal" but teetering on the very edge of not being. Anything you don't understand all you have to do is ask on here.
 
Hi I just an update, so today I had an appointment at the hospital diabetes clinic. She explained my results to me in more detail. It seems I’m not an easy diagnosis. She did mention LADA. Told me my GAD were negative but my c peptide is low. Seeing that my BMI is within range and I’m under 40 that they believe I could be type 1 and in the honeymoon period. Any way tomorrow I have an appointment with the diabetes nurse to show me how to inject the insulin I will now be on
 
Zeebee81 said:
Hi I just an update, so today I had an appointment at the hospital diabetes clinic. She explained my results to me in more detail. It seems I’m not an easy diagnosis. She did mention LADA. Told me my GAD were negative but my c peptide is low. Seeing that my BMI is within range and I’m under 40 that they believe I could be type 1 and in the honeymoon period. Any way tomorrow I have an appointment with the diabetes nurse to show me how to inject the insulin I will now be on
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Your hospital seems quite enlightened?
 
Hi Zeebee81.........I'm so glad your Diabetes Clinic is on the ball, some of our friends on here have had such a difficult time with theirs its scary.
As research and the knowledge about Diabetes grows it appears there are more "Types" and "Sub-types" than were envisioned a few years back, and even then there can be a combination of any of these which are individual to each person diagnosed........we are all unique........
Injecting can be a bit of a bore and occasionally, if you hit the wrong spot, a tad painful........ but it soon becomes part of the routine of life......
Just a reminder if your a driver............ you must inform the DVLA once you have started insulin, and its prudent to inform your insurance company too, the insurance people shouldn't put up your premium because of it.........if they do try it on change companies.
 
Zeebee81 said:
Hi I just an update, so today I had an appointment at the hospital diabetes clinic. She explained my results to me in more detail. It seems I’m not an easy diagnosis. She did mention LADA. Told me my GAD were negative but my c peptide is low. Seeing that my BMI is within range and I’m under 40 that they believe I could be type 1 and in the honeymoon period. Any way tomorrow I have an appointment with the diabetes nurse to show me how to inject the insulin I will now be on
Click to expand...
Hiya,

Seems you are in the same situation as me - GAD negative but low c peptide. My hba1c was much high than yours though at 103 and I am younger at 26.

Has your team also mentioned MODY testing? This is usually done if there are other generations of diabetes in the family :).

Best of luck with everything and the insulin really isn’t that bad! I started just in long acting and then I was put on quick acting too (this was a few weeks later).
 
satindoll said:
Hi Zeebee81.........I'm so glad your Diabetes Clinic is on the ball, some of our friends on here have had such a difficult time with theirs its scary.
As research and the knowledge about Diabetes grows it appears there are more "Types" and "Sub-types" than were envisioned a few years back, and even then there can be a combination of any of these which are individual to each person diagnosed........we are all unique........
Injecting can be a bit of a bore and occasionally, if you hit the wrong spot, a tad painful........ but it soon becomes part of the routine of life......
Just a reminder if your a driver............ you must inform the DVLA once you have started insulin, and its prudent to inform your insurance company too, the insurance people shouldn't put up your premium because of it.........if they do try it on change companies.
Click to expand...

Thank you, yes I am a driver so have just informed them
 
SB.25 said:
Hiya,

Seems you are in the same situation as me - GAD negative but low c peptide. My hba1c was much high than yours though at 103 and I am younger at 26.

Has your team also mentioned MODY testing? This is usually done if there are other generations of diabetes in the family :).

Best of luck with everything and the insulin really isn’t that bad! I started just in long acting and then I was put on quick acting too (this was a few weeks later).
Click to expand...

No no mention of MODY as of yet. I have also started on the long lasting insulin and have some fast acting just Incase. There’s so much to take in
 
Zeebee81 said:
No no mention of MODY as of yet. I have also started on the long lasting insulin and have some fast acting just Incase. There’s so much to take in
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We are in the same boat, my Dr’s were quick to find out I was a LADA type 1 as well, now that you are on long lasting you should start feeling much better it made a world of difference for me, I have to go up/ down on my dose depending on time of month I go from 6-4 units, my good cells seem to come and go, I say they go on vacation then come back home lol. My period seems to effect my numbers too. You can be in the honeymoon phase for a long Time and it is all about trial and error for sure. I am not comfortable with the short acting yet as my body is very sensitive, so I will not take it until I hit 250 or 13.88 for you guys, as it lowers me very fast.
I would ask for a constant glucose meter, I got the Dexcom G6 and it is a wonderful tool, definitely teaches me what I’m feeling when high/low.
Good luck.
 
NewlyLADA said:
We are in the same boat, my Dr’s were quick to find out I was a LADA type 1 as well, now that you are on long lasting you should start feeling much better it made a world of difference for me, I have to go up/ down on my dose depending on time of month I go from 6-4 units, my good cells seem to come and go, I say they go on vacation then come back home lol. My period seems to effect my numbers too. You can be in the honeymoon phase for a long Time and it is all about trial and error for sure. I am not comfortable with the short acting yet as my body is very sensitive, so I will not take it until I hit 250 or 13.88 for you guys, as it lowers me very fast.
I would ask for a constant glucose meter, I got the Dexcom G6 and it is a wonderful tool, definitely teaches me what I’m feeling when high/low.
Good luck.
Click to expand...

I am also on 6 units. Like yourself I also have the fast acting insulin ready in the fridge and I’m assuming once I email my readings over Wednesday I’ll be told if I need to take it.
I will definitely ask about the constant glucose meter. Thank you
 
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