Type 1 Or Type 2?

Mrsbris

Member
Messages
7
Well I guess you can check and question all you like whether you get an honest or straight answer is another thing.
 

SOPHIE2006

Well-Known Member
Messages
148
Hi everyone,

I’ve been diagnosed with diabetes for a couple of weeks now but they still haven’t decided if it’s type 1 or 2.

For background: I had an hba1c about 3 months ago and it was 6.1. Two months later I’m in hospital with blurred vision, sugar so high the meter won’t give a number, ketones 3.7 and hba1c of 10.1. The specialist consultant I saw diagnosed type 1 and sent me away on insulin, doses rapidly increased and still aren’t high enough to get things under control.

That was when I was on holiday so last week I saw the consultant at my local hospital who said it might be type 2, based on various risk factors rather than any symptoms. I went into that appointment expecting to get test results, have either type 1 or LADA confirmed and be told more about diet/carb counting. The results had got lost so I came away with no answers and no info.

Today I had a call from a nurse to ask about my numbers and put the insulin doses up again. He mentioned in passing that one result was back and might indicate type 2 but they are waiting for another 2 results before they decide. In the meantime my gp has asked me to go in next week about test results, possibly something to do with my thyroid??? I didn’t know that had even been tested!


So what I’m really hoping for is more info on how they diagnose type 1/2. I know c-peptides were mentioned as well as antibodies but I don’t know enough about that. Is type 2 really likely to develop that fast? My diet was good during that time, and I wasn’t eating much sugar. I felt like the local consultant was judging me based on my weight and assumed type 2 where the one I saw first went by the symptoms and thought type 1. Where does my thyroid fit in?

Are there any good links to that information?
I'm in a similar situation to you. I was diagnosed 5 weeks ago and they don't know what type i am either. I presented with type 2 symptoms but later the doctor said i was type 1. Its so confusing. Im on lantus and metformin
 

LornaFarrell

Well-Known Member
Messages
72
I'm in a similar situation to you. I was diagnosed 5 weeks ago and they don't know what type i am either. I presented with type 2 symptoms but later the doctor said i was type 1. Its so confusing. Im on lantus and metformin

Hi Sophie, nice to meet someone in a similar position! As far as I can see all my symptoms are classic type 1. I’m on lantus and novorapid, but I need training on how to work out the doses because trial and error isn’t working all that well! I was diagnosed 4 weeks ago now and still waiting for test results. Are they doing blood tests for you too?
 

Dee26eed

Member
Messages
10
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hiya I understand where you are coming from completely, I am a larger lady and have had PCOS for 10+ years, my doctors weren't treating me for it (I don't know why) with having PCOS and the research I had done as doctors didn't know anything about it, I knew I was at a higher chance of developing T2 diabetes. I already had insulin resistance so kept my diet to a higher protien low carb diet.
No weight loss for years until christmas time last year, I felt so ill and thought I was over working myself (I'm a carer) I lost 2 Stone within a month and presented all the symptoms of diabetes not knowing at the time. My otherhalf pleaded me to go to the doctors but I never had the time, until one night I was so bad I went to the local community hospital as I had a really bad abcess too. They checked my sugars which were through the roof and told me to go straight to main hospital that night. When I got there I was very confused with the whole thing. It wasn't until I was released a few days with tonnes of meds at hand that I did the research as to how bad I was. I was in a very bad state of DKA my ketones were reading at 3.8 and my sugars were in the 20s even at a fasting test. I had Doctors running everywhere and didn't know why until I came out.

But because of my size they automatically put me down as T2 diabetes, I remember talking to one of the hospital Doctors she said I had T2 but was treating me with T1 meds, so I asked her what was the difference and she began to contradict herself saying I know they are different treatments but you have T2 as you are on the bigger side so can't be T1.

So I get released from the hospital with my insulin to treat my T2. All was fine my BG was under control and I get sent to a speacialist 3 months later to talk over my results and get some advice. The specialist said I was positive for T1 on all 3 blood tests, so definately have T1. I explained to him and said the doctor said I couldn't possibly have T1 because I was too big. He laughed and said nope you are T1 it is in your results.

I was glad I had a very understanding specialist who didn't put labels on me and brand me with the same brush that because I am bigger I must eat all the sugar under the sun haha. If anyone knows me, they know I don't have a sweet tooth and would rather the savory item to the sweet item.

In all I hope you get it sorted
 

nyalam

Member
Messages
10
I’m the opposite way in terms of BMI / size but similar to not knowing if I’m type 1 or 2!

I was diagnosed at first as being likely 1.5 LADA due to normal BMI and and an HBA1C of 10.7% on initial diagnosis. Weighing up the balance of possibilities that was what I prepared myself for and whilst wishing I was somehow a type 2 had got over initial shock to knuckle down and get used to a regime of basal insulin and metformin.

The big red flag for type 1 is as you stated the antibodies- you have any of these then it’s an open and closed case type 1 or not. I showed no evidence of any antibodies from my results and also showed a normal C-Peptide level / wee bit elevated Insulin level whilst fasting too - pointing away from type 1 to type 2! But because of not being overweight and relatively healthy and active the endo (Russian as I’m based here) still said to go on as if I’m type 1.5.

Having now spoken with Diabetic nurse and Endocrinologist privately back in U.K. and had blood tests again there they strongly feel that I’m type 2 and whilst not showing being ‘fat’ outwardly the junk I’ve eaten and overdoing the breads / pastas / choco Etc has lead to me being ‘fat’ inside and thus triggering type 2. Either way I was only on 6 units of insulin basal a day and now down to 3 and feel that as I rarely go above 5/6 mol/l fasting I could go without it and just keep to pills.

It’s confusing and frustrating as hell ... you need those antibodies tests done and I guess if like me that doesn’t cement type 1 keep an eye on C-Pep every half year or so to see if any drastic changes there point to Type 1. Good luck!