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Hi

J

JillFearn

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Hi all

My name is JIll and new to the group. My son in law is type 1 and my granddaughter who is 14 is T1, she was diagnosed at 7 years.

My 56 year old husband is in hospital and they believe he has T1 but they cannot seem to decide if T1 or T2 as he is 56 yrs old, we went to hospital as I recognised the symptoms, sudden weight loss, thirst etc, his bloods were unreadable as too high. No family history of diabetes.

His HbA1c which they did yesterday was 111 and they have started him on insulin but have said they have sent off more bloods for a definitive answer as to whether T1 or T2. My question is that is it possible to get T1 at 56 out of the blue and does anyone know what the additional blood test is? I thought I knew a lot about diabetes but turns out I don’t and I am really confused as to why they can’t diagnose on the tests they have done?

Any advice would be gratefully received

Many thanks
Jill
 
Yes, it is possible to get Type 1 out of the blue at any age.
It is great your husband's doctors are considering this rather they relying on the old myth that only children get Type 1. More than half the people in the UK with Type 1 were diagnosed as adults inclusive in their 80s.
The additional tests are likely to be GAD and c-peptide. These extra tests are needed because finger pricks and hba1c (the one that came out as 111 for your husband) just say he has excess glucose in his blood but not why it is there.
 
Welcome to the forum @JillFearn

Yes it’s perfectly possible to get T1 at any age - we have a number of members who were diagnosed with T1 in their 50s. The rapid onset, high starting HbA1c, thirst, fatigue, and weight loss are all characteristic of T1 (the 4Ts of T1 are Toilet, Tired, Thirsty, and Thinner). Good that they have started him on insulin while they await the extra checks - though clinical factors / presentation are usually the best guide to diabetes type.

Which insulin(s) has he been given?
 
JillFearn said:
My question is that is it possible to get T1 at 56 out of the blue and does anyone know what the additional blood test is?
Click to expand...
Yes you can get T1 at 106 years old you don’t have to be a child. They will be checking his immune response and insulin production.
 
JillFearn said:
Hi all

My name is JIll and new to the group. My son in law is type 1 and my granddaughter who is 14 is T1, she was diagnosed at 7 years.

My 56 year old husband is in hospital and they believe he has T1 but they cannot seem to decide if T1 or T2 as he is 56 yrs old, we went to hospital as I recognised the symptoms, sudden weight loss, thirst etc, his bloods were unreadable as too high. No family history of diabetes.

His HbA1c which they did yesterday was 111 and they have started him on insulin but have said they have sent off more bloods for a definitive answer as to whether T1 or T2. My question is that is it possible to get T1 at 56 out of the blue and does anyone know what the additional blood test is? I thought I knew a lot about diabetes but turns out I don’t and I am really confused as to why they can’t diagnose on the tests they have done?

Any advice would be gratefully received

Many thanks
Jill
Click to expand...
Hi I was diagnosed at 57with type 2, 7 months later blood hba1c was 123. Was sent to hospital and they thought type 1, they started me on insulin but was couple off months before blood results came back to confirm type 1. I had same symptoms and no history of diabetes in my family. Did ask nurse why I had suddenly got it, she said an infection can cause it. A month earlier I did have bad chest infection
 
Sorry to hear this once things are sorted out he will feel much better im sure.Wellcome to the forum remember no question to small/large or to silly
good luck
gail
 
helli said:
Yes, it is possible to get Type 1 out of the blue at any age.
It is great your husband's doctors are considering this rather they relying on the old myth that only children get Type 1. More than half the people in the UK with Type 1 were diagnosed as adults inclusive in their 80s.
The additional tests are likely to be GAD and c-peptide. These extra tests are needed because finger pricks and hba1c (the one that came out as 111 for your husband) just say he has excess glucose in his blood but not why it is there.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much x
 
The bugger can appear that at any age - but way back in 1972 when I was 22 and diagnosed, even back then they had a theory that 'some viral illnesses' can bring it on - and I'd had a horrible gastric bug that kept me off work for a fortnight in the February and hadn't been 100% since then until by the end of the July when my best friend got married I was suffering and decided to see my GP, the rest is history.

Since then medical science has moved on shedloads and so has the understanding and treatment of it - though of course as I've aged, folk very often wrongly assume 'she's old, bet she has Type 2' - glad I don't really cos honestly, Type 2 is far more complicated in a number of ways than classic Type 1.

Never prevented me from doing things I've wanted or needed to do - once you learn how to manage itself and yourself, decently. And by the way - nobody on earth can 'control' blood glucose but we can learn to manage it. And your husband will! It just takes time.

I wish you both good luck and patience! :care: 🙂🙂
 
Hi Jenny, thank you for reply. it is interesting that a viral illness can bring it on, I had no idea.

Lots to learn for him but he will just get on with it, whereas I am overthinker.

Many thanks
Jill x
 
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