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Hi hi hi not high high high

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DMB

DMB

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1.5 LADA
Newbie here.

“1,2,1,1.5, something, something, lets wait and see in 3 months time”

35, 6’2”, fit, robust and felt invincible with 4000 Kcal/day and a very active lifestyle until I got really sick whilst working in Kenya (Sep 15). I shouldn't have ignored all those symptoms for a month.

Back on home turf now and I have seen a few consultants. All of which have had a different opinion. The latest being Type 1.5 which might make sense.

I have used this website for reference material but not blogs until my recent change of diagnosis. Wow! There are loads of people out there!
 
Hi and welcome to the forum. Plenty of help and information from very knowledgeable folks :D
 
Hi from a type 2 who's one year in. So, are they trying to decide what sort of diabetic you are then?
 
Hello and welcome 🙂
Sounds like they're having difficulty putting your diabetes in a box! The tendency with adults is to assume type 2 and then see what happens. I was diagnosed recently at 40 but was "lucky" enough to be diagnosed type 1 immediately because I was in DKA (that bit not so lucky), but there are lots of people here who were initially diagnosed T2 and then rediagnosed later. Have they got you on medication?
 
Hello and welcome to the forum.
 
Hello, DMB. I was diagnosed as type 2 because of my age.(52 at diagnosis) It was only when none of the usual drugs had any impact at all that I was referred to the hospital and tested for GAD antibodies, which proved I was type 1. The test was conclusive in my case, but unfortunately is not entirely reliable, because if you've already got to the stage where your immune system has destroyed most of your beta cells, nothing shows up on the test. Whatever the test result, my hospital said they would treat me with whatever therapy was appropriate, so I'd have moved on to insulin even with a negative result.
 
Hi DMB and welcome from a fellow type 1.5 🙂
Have you been started on insulin yet?
Loads of awesome people here in the forum 🙂
 
Hi

It has been an interesting couple of months and I am hoping that my next set of test results will provide some clarity on the T1.5 front.

I was DKA in Kenya and had some treatment in hospital which included Lantus and Humalog amongst a few other bits and bobs like potassium which got things under control. T1. After a week I tried Amaryl and metformin and no insulin which worked ok.T2.

By now I was back in Germany and my GP was unsure of a diagnosis so I saw a German consultant. Still T2. I stopped the Amaryl and there were no dramas. Over the next few months I limited my carb intake, continued with my normal exercise routine and was fixated on reducing my HBA1C from 13% to 6% which I achieved. I stopped taking the metformin and after a week I started again.

Got referred to a consultant in the UK as I was not keen on the German consultant (the rest of the treatment team in Germany have been excellent though) and they think that I am actually T1.5. I also got a kick up the bum and I was told to eat more and that I will probably need to start taking Lantus and stop the metformin. I am eating more and levels are a bit higher but nothing crazy. I plan on moving back to the UK this year.

Based on the latest diagnosis, I have one concern. I am not a fan of taking drugs. I am not sure if I would prefer to take metformin or insulin as the dietician quickly pointed out that the latter is not a drug!!! Eek.

Min-Vicki, did you start on metformin and then move to insulin?

I have had GAD and C-peptide tests initially which were inconclusive. Just waiting on the latest results.
 
DMB said:
Hi
Min-Vicki, did you start on metformin and then move to insulin?
.
Click to expand...

Wow you've been through the mill a bit.
It sounds more like type 1.5 to me, especially after the DKA.

My journey to insulin took over 5 years unfortunately. I was diagnosed (wrongly) as type 2 when I was only 24, I (like you) managed to reduce my HbA1c to a near normal level by basically not eating. After a year of being underweight and miserable all the time, my levels started to increase again. I was eating a more normal diet by this time. Anyway, eventually I started metformin, moving up to the highest dose, then gliclazide added in, then stitagliptin. These had minimal affect on my HbA1c. My BGs at this point were always in the 20s, I felt awful most of the time! My GP referred me to a diabetes specialist nurse who put me on insulin immediately, and shortly after confirmed type 1.5.
I've been on insulin since September, and I feel so much better than I have done in years. I dreaded the thought of starting insulin, but it's the best thing I've ever done.
Sometimes I worry about the amount of time my BGs were sky high, and sometimes I'm pretty angry at the misdiagnosis, considering I had lots of pointers towards type 1 (family history, other autoimmune disorders), but what's done is done.

I'm aware you didn't ask for my life history, 😛 but I think type 1.5s often go through a convoluted process to diagnosis.

I hope you can get your diagnosis and treatment started soon 🙂
 
Wow, as have you, sounds a bit messy.

I will act on the results of the next test results so probably insulin.

Ha, no I didn’t but after my War and Peace I am happy for the read. Glad (if that’s the right word) that there are others out there with similar issues. Cheers.
 
DMB said:
Newbie here.

“1,2,1,1.5, something, something, lets wait and see in 3 months time”

!
Click to expand...
Congrats on achieving a number. It does help you fit the tick boxes! :D I put T1 on my profile 'cos its the closest!o_O
 
Welcome to the forum. Whats the car ? Golf or Polo & whats the story ? 🙂 (from someone who is into old cars)
 
Hi and welcome to the forum
 
Hi Hobie, Sorry for the delay. Golf mk 2. It is an old snap. A friend gave it to me with no MOT and in need of some TLC. I had it for a couple of years before it went to auto heaven. Awesome car and I got another mk2 a few years later. Never let me down. I love an old banger which can be tinkered with.
 
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