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Type Unknown/Mixed Newly Diagnosed

JFWinstone

Well-Known Member
Messages
147
Hello, I am new to the forum and was recently diagnosed. They are still trying to figure out what type of diabetes it is, I spoke to the specialist from the diabetes clinic at Southmead hospital and they said something about it possibly being some kind of mixed type.

Basically, what happened is I was rushed into hospital in July with severe pancreatitis and my HBA1c was 96, I was put on insulin while I was in hospital but then after discharge, it has taken until yesterday to be told that I am actually diabetic. They are saying it could be partially to do with pancreatitis, partially genetic and partially type 2 which is why they are saying some kind of mixed type at the moment.

There is a family history of diabetes on both sides of my family, my dad is type 2 diabetic and my mum is prediabetic/insulin resistant. I've been told I might be more susceptible due to being mixed ethnicity I'm European, Asian and African. My mum has lost family on her paternal Mauritian side to diabetes complications.

I am 36 years old, and a wheelchair user with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (along with a list of associated conditions) and Autism. I've been finding it difficult getting on top of my diet and getting some kind of regular exercise I can do due to the covid restrictions and lack of care hours being provided. I know I need to lose some weight and get my diet back under control.

Well that's me for now

Jack
 

Hi Jack,

Welcome to the forum.

What insulin/s have you been prescribed?
 
JFWinstone said:
Too much junk food/stress eating, not eating regular meals, not enough veg, not enough water.
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Give this a shot, but careful with the insulin, you could well hypo if you go low carb quick. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/ And if you're not a fan of veg, you could always try the carnivore route. (Fish, meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, all are low to no carb).

If your diabetes came on with pancreatitis, you're likely a T3c, who have a subforum here.Most docs never even heard of that "brand". If you're insulin resistant as well, that could indeed mean a double whammey, but just, you know.... Realise that a label is just that. A label. In the end there's not a T2 on here who has the exact same level of insulin resistance, sensitivity and production as I have. We're rather snow-flakey as it is, so it is usually a matter of finding what works for you. regardless of what the label is, it's always a matter of bespoke living. Not just for your body and health, but your lifestyle and mental health as well. If you're a stress eater, ditch the high carb snacks and go for low to no carb ones, they won't hurt you. (Hard cheeses, certain nuts like pecans and macadamia's, olives, extra dark chocolate, cold cuts, snack sausages like bifi's....). And if you can't resist junk food, try having burgers without the buns but with extra bacon, for instance. It's the buns and fries that trip you up. Gyros, shoarma, just have that sort of stuff without the pita's and go slow on the sauces. (Or just use mayo). You don't have to eat regular meals, though with insulin in the mix it might be easier to regulate your blood sugars if you do. Personally, I eat twice a day, I breakfast around noon, have my dinner, and leave it at that. But that's what works for me. Test your heart out and find out that works for you.

Good luck!
Jo
 
Well baked beans are definitely a no go even the no added sugars ones that I have, bloods were 6.9 pre-meal, 13.9 2hrs post and then back down to 6.9 4hrs post. Small portion with some scrambled eggs for breakfast
 
Ah - sounds as though you have the 'I can digest beans no problem' type of gut - I have one too and a small spoonful of peas or beans is all I can eat without spiking.
I still manage some fairly substantial stir fries, salads and roasted low carb veges with my meals.
 
JoKalsbeek said:
...Which was normal. Bit the higher end of it I believe, but still.
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I’d say it’s well in the normal range with diabetes diagnosis starting at 48 in the UK and pre-diabetes at 42.
 
Hi, with the pancreatitis diagnosis and your other conditions, did you have hypoglycaemic episodes? In other words were you aware of how high or low your blood glucose levels went?
 
Lamont D said:
Hi, with the pancreatitis diagnosis and your other conditions, did you have hypoglycaemic episodes? In other words were you aware of how high or low your blood glucose levels went?
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Not prior to the pancreatitis diagnosis but I know it was very high while I was in hospital, they were checking my ketones all the time. I was pretty out of it so I don't remember the exact figures. I was in hospital for several weeks because of the pancreatitis.
 
JFWinstone said:
Since being home after the pancreatitis diagnosis it has gone as low as 3.5 and as high as 16.
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What medications, if any, are you taking now you're home? You've had quite a time of it.
 
I got my letter from the clinic yesterday and they have put that it is Diabetes likely combination of insulin insufficiency secondary to pancreatitis and insulin resistance secondary to family history and raised BMI. I'm under the complex diabetes clinic. I'm going for more blood tests on Thursday that the clinic has requested, fasting lipids, repeat HbA1c, liver function, renal and urine test.
 
It's good that you are being seen by a hospital clinic rather than a GP (who are generally clueless about all types of diabetes other than vanilla T2, and not that great at that).

So the pancreatitis has probably reduced your insulin production and your T2 tendencies mean that you are insulin resistant and don't cope well with carbs.

It's possible that reducing your carb intake will allow you to give up the insulin, but that depends on how badly the pancreatitis has effected your ability to produce insulin. But the good news is that unlike T1/LADA folk your insulin production doesn't have to go down to zero, so you have more options than a traditional T1. In your position I'd try low carb to see if your body can survive without insulin but you'd need to be very careful about reducing your insulin at the same time so you don't go too low.

Whatever happens and whatever dietary choices you make, you need to keep in close contact with your clinic so you can adjust your insulin doses correctly. Good luck and make sure you avoid those hypos.
 
Thanks for the advice @EllieM I have already started on the low carb and have informed the clinic, I'm starting to see some nice drops in my average readings and my morning FBGs. Interestingly I went to my GP surgery for more blood tests today and they have me on their system as T1.
 
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