Which type of diabetes

[pollyr]

Hi
Wonder if anyone can help me. I was diagnosed as type 2 about 7 years ago and took oral medication to keep my BG's in check. Around 18 months ago I had a severe attack of pancreatitis and was hospitalised for 6 months. During that time I was put on insulin on a sliding scale and then given insulin injections when I was discharged. Does this now mean that I must be classed as type 1 or is there a way to define which type I am now.


Thanks
Polly

 

[ebony321]

Hi
Wonder if anyone can help me. I was diagnosed as type 2 about 7 years ago and took oral medication to keep my BG's in check. Around 18 months ago I had a severe attack of pancreatitis and was hospitalised for 6 months. During that time I was put on insulin on a sliding scale and then given insulin injections when I was discharged. Does this now mean that I must be classed as type 1 or is there a way to define which type I am now.


Thanks
Polly

Hi,

sorry to hear that happened to you,

a while ago i was reading in to all different types of diabetes, and if im not mistaken pancreatitis is also known as type3c diabetes (diseases of the pancreas)

Even though you are insulin dependant as your pancreas has been left ineffective you won't be classed as type 1 as type 1 is an autoimmune disease that attacks the pancreas resulting in diabetes.

i'll try find a useful link for you (and myself as i'm a curious person)

 

[Lynne C]

Hi

From what I have been told if you start off as type 1 or type 2 that is what you are classed as. Type 2 diabetics may be controlled by diet, diet and tablets or with diet and an injection of long acting insulin at night to keep your basal rate under control.

Same controls apply whichever type your are but if you inject fast acting insulin at meal times it does mean you can vary things you eat without raising your blood glucose, once you know what you are doing.

Good luck!

Lynne C

 

[HLW]

I think - still type 2 as you are resistant to insulin, also type 1 because your body produces no or little insulin, don't think it matters why. Not 100% sure though, everywhere seems to label things differently.

 

[ebony321]

I think - still type 2 as you are resistant to insulin, also type 1 because your body produces no or little insulin, don't think it matters why. Not 100% sure though, everywhere seems to label things differently.

I dont mean to be rude but, it's classed as different types because of how your body develops diabetes. and all the different types have different treatments and symptoms and risks.

so it is important that you know which type you are in order to get the best treatment available.

 

[pollyr]

Thank you everyone for your posts. Maybe I should check with my SDN but as all this is quite new to me - am a complete novice and find it quite complicated. I take a humalog mix twice daily which was described to me as being both quick and slow acting. I have also now started to take 2 x 2 metformin daily as I asked if I could be weaned off the insulin. I dont suppose the doctor can tell me if my pancreas is able to produce insulin following my pancreatitis attack as there was some necrosis of the pancreas. I asked my consultant surgeon how much pancreas I had left and he said 'enough' which would hopefully suggest that it would be able to produce some insulin. Prior to the attack I was taking metformin and glicazide and it kept my BG's at about 7.5 but since I have been on the insulin,starting at 6 units twice daily and within one month was taking 24 x twice daily units, my BG before meals and in the mornings vary between 6 and about 14.

Does anyone else have a similar experience to mine and wonder if there is a possibility that I could come off the insulin now my pancreas has had a good rest which is what the doctor wanted.

Thanks
Polly

 

[ebony321]

Thank you everyone for your posts. Maybe I should check with my SDN but as all this is quite new to me - am a complete novice and find it quite complicated. I take a humalog mix twice daily which was described to me as being both quick and slow acting. I have also now started to take 2 x 2 metformin daily as I asked if I could be weaned off the insulin. I dont suppose the doctor can tell me if my pancreas is able to produce insulin following my pancreatitis attack as there was some necrosis of the pancreas. I asked my consultant surgeon how much pancreas I had left and he said 'enough' which would hopefully suggest that it would be able to produce some insulin. Prior to the attack I was taking metformin and glicazide and it kept my BG's at about 7.5 but since I have been on the insulin,starting at 6 units twice daily and within one month was taking 24 x twice daily units, my BG before meals and in the mornings vary between 6 and about 14.

Does anyone else have a similar experience to mine and wonder if there is a possibility that I could come off the insulin now my pancreas has had a good rest which is what the doctor wanted.

Thanks
Polly

Hi,

there's a test called the c-peptide test which can tell you how much insulin your pancreas is producing, this is often used to determine if a person have type 1 or type 2 diabetes if it is unclear, i've found a link that describes it in detail..

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understan ... /test.html

if you ask you doctor to perform this test it can indicate wether your pancreas is able to produce enough insulin for you just to go back to oral medication.

i don't think anyone here can tell you for definate if you would be able to come off insulin, so best to ask your specialists

good luck!

 

[pollyr]

Thankyou everyone,
I will ask my SDN if he will arrange for me to have the test as suggested, your posts have been very helpful. To date I havent been told much and not knowing the questions to ask makes it doubly difficult.