Type 1 or Type 2

[Stattovic]

I have been diabetic for about 40 years now and often wondered what is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2.

As I am on insulin 40/10/40 units each day, I always thought I was Type 1, but recently on an appointment I was told I was type 2.

Can someone please explain what the difference is.

Many thanks
Victor

 

[Spiker]

After you have been treated on insulin for a long time it really doesn't make much difference. Early on, Type 2s produce insulin, lots of it, but are insulin resistant - the insulin doesn't work very well. Type 1s just don't produce insulin, or not enough. There are tests that can distinguish between the two main types.

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[Stattovic]

Thanks Spiker, dosent really tell me which I am though.

 

[Spiker]

Thanks Spiker, dosent really tell me which I am though.

Oh sorry I didn't realise that was the question.

If you ever had a period after diagnosis when you didn't need insulin then you are Type 2. However if you have always had insulin that doesn't absolutely prove you were Type 1, you might have been misdiagnosed at the time.

The tests that can be done are the C peptide test and the GAD antibodies test. But if taken many years after diagnosis these are not conclusive.

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[phoenix]

Here's a short article that describes the main types of diabetes.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/expert-blog/types-of-diabetes/bgp-20056516
You can have a form of T1 that doesn't require insulin for a while, this is the case in many adults . This is described briefly at the bottom of the article (LADA)
Most people with Lada do require insulin within 6 years of outset, many very much sooner.
http://www.isletsofhope.com/diabetes/symptoms/latent_autoimmune_diabetes_lada_1.html

 

[Stattovic]

Many thanks

 

[CarbsRok]

I have been diabetic for about 40 years now and often wondered what is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2.

As I am on insulin 40/10/40 units each day, I always thought I was Type 1, but recently on an appointment I was told I was type 2.

Can someone please explain what the difference is.

Many thanks
Victor

So who actually told you that you were type 2 and what evidence did they use to make that statement?
Let me guess, due to your age (69) the person involved decided that you were to old to be a type 1 without it entering their brain cell that you were diagnosed as a type 1 40 years ago and have matured over the years to tell the tale.

 

[Stattovic]

The diabetic specialist nurse said type 2 which was a surprise to me - more bad news just reached me - after retinal screen am told I need an appointment for diabetic maculopathy.

 

[CarbsRok]

The diabetic specialist nurse said type 2 which was a surprise to me - more bad news just reached me - after retinal screen am told I need an appointment for diabetic maculopathy.

Was that the nurse at the Drs surgery?
Sorry about the macularopathy hope it can be sorted for you.

 

[Spiker]

The diabetic specialist nurse said type 2 which was a surprise to me - more bad news just reached me - after retinal screen am told I need an appointment for diabetic maculopathy.

Unless she did a C peptide test - and she won't have done - she is just making an assumption.

Sorry to hear about the maculopathy. Some of these side effects can partly reverse if you gradually improve your blood sugar control.

 

[Daibell]

I agree with much of what the other posters have said. As a generalisation if you are noticeably overweight at diagnosis then T2 is more likely. If slim and having lost weight before diagnosis then late onset T1 is more likely. I'm still listed as a T2 on the records even though I'm pretty sure I'm a LADA and never been overweight in my life and lost weight unexpectedly shortly before diagnosis. My c-peptide test showed I had very little insulin. The main difference which the c-peptide test measures is whether your natural insulin is low (T1) or normal/high (T2)

 

[Stattovic]

The nurse I saw was in a specialist diabetic clinic, not my surgery - so I assume she is expert.
Anyway guys thanks for your inpot much appreciated.

 

[mo1905]

The nurse I saw was in a specialist diabetic clinic, not my surgery - so I assume she is expert.
Anyway guys thanks for your inpot much appreciated.

Best thing to do is just ask her why your diagnosis has suddenly changed. My guess would be that it was her guess too. As many others have said, after 40 years on insulin, treatment won't change, but it's still nice to know.

 

[CarbsRok]

The nurse I saw was in a specialist diabetic clinic, not my surgery - so I assume she is expert.
Anyway guys thanks for your inpot much appreciated.

Lol That's a dangerous assumption.
You really need to ask her what she based her assumption on. Type 1 and type 2 are two different condition's and if she thinks you are a type 2 she might decide to take it into her head to take you off of insulin and try a different drug. This would obviously be fatal to you as a type 1.