Unexpected weight loss.

[frozenout]

Still new to the site and Diabetes, I'm in the early stages of adjusting to the condition.

Whilst I feel I'm getting there I'm quite taken aback by my significant weight loss of late .

The context is that I'm 65 and 6 ft 1 and for the last few years I've weighed in between 14.8 to 14. 10.
I'm last 5 months I've steadily dropped weight to as of this morning 13.7.

This drop has coincided with a period when due to ignorance on my part I haven't managed my Diabetes as well as I should------ as per moving from a 59 on the blood test to most recently 103!!

Let me make clear I don't think there is anything more sinister surrounding the weight loss as I'm not a big eater regardless + I'm very active as per walking and playing football. Nor do I feel unwell.

Basically I'm aware weight loss can be associated with Diabetes but can it have this effect to this degree and in such a short period of time as outlined.

Would welcome comment from others .

 

[Leadinglights]

Still new to the site and Diabetes, I'm in the early stages of adjusting to the condition.

Whilst I feel I'm getting there I'm quite taken aback by my significant weight loss of late .

The context is that I'm 65 and 6 ft 1 and for the last few years I've weighed in between 14.8 to 14. 10.
I'm last 5 months I've steadily dropped weight to as of this morning 13.7.

This drop has coincided with a period when due to ignorance on my part I haven't managed my Diabetes as well as I should------ as per moving from a 59 on the blood test to most recently 103!!

Let me make clear I don't think there is anything more sinister surrounding the weight loss as I'm not a big eater regardless + I'm very active as per walking and playing football. Nor do I feel unwell.

Basically I'm aware weight loss can be associated with Diabetes but can it have this effect to this degree and in such a short period of time as outlined.

Would welcome comment from others .

Sudden weight loss can be indicative of Type 1 diabetes but if you have changed your diet by reducing carbohydrates to get your blood glucose levels down then weight loss would not be unusual and what many people would be aiming for.
If people do not need to lose weight it is recommended that they need to make sure they have enough protein and healthy fats.

 

[Kaylz]

If I were you I'd ask to be tested for Type 1 diabetes xx

 

[frozenout]

Sudden weight loss can be indicative of Type 1 diabetes but if you have changed your diet by reducing carbohydrates to get your blood glucose levels down then weight loss would not be unusual and what many people would be aiming for.
If people do not need to lose weight it is recommended that they need to make sure they have enough protein and healthy fats.

Many thanks.

 

[frozenout]

If I were you I'd ask to be tested for Type 1 diabetes xx

Methinks you could be right. Many thanks for getting back to me.

 

[Kaylz]

Methinks you could be right. Many thanks for getting back to me.

Do let us know how you get on xx

 

[DaveB]

Hi. Yes do ask for the two T1 tests as it sounds like you may have failing beta cells and hence are burning body fat thru lack of insulin

 

[frozenout]

Do let us know how you get on xx

Will do

 

[rebrascora]

The two most recognized tests for Type 1 are GAD antibody test and C-peptide.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the beta cells in the pancreas which produce insulin, meaning that they die off and you become unable to produce enough to process the glucose in your blood. This means that the cells of the body body have to start burning their own fat stores for energy instead because they can't access the glucose. The GAD antibody is produced as a result of this immune system attack.
The C-peptide test is a measure of how much insulin the body is actually producing. Many Type 2 diabetics, particularly those newly diagnosed are often producing excess insulin to try to overcome the insulin resistance which is a common feature of Type 2, so an above average C-peptide test would suggest Type 2 but a lower range reading together with a positive GAD would suggest Type 1. If you are able, ask to have a blood C-peptide test as oppose to a urine test as blood is more reliable. Unfortunately the blood sample has to be frozen immediately and sent off to the lab frozen so the urine test is logistically easier (doesn't need freezing) but can lead to the results being less than helpful, so offer to go to your main hospital to have the blood sample taken and frozen if necessary.

Type 1 diabetes developing in later life is often much slower to exhibit and may initially appear to respond to dietary changes and/or Type 2 oral meds but once you get past a tipping point where the remaining beta cells are not numerous enough to cope with the workload, you see the more common Type 1 symptoms and in particular unexplained weight loss. Many GPs are under the misapprehension that Type 1 only develops in children and young adults and so, assume that if you are a mature adult, you must have Type 2, but there are lots of us here on the forum who were diagnosed Type 1 later in life. I was 56.

Anyway, I hope the above gives you a bit more information. Ideally you would want a referral to a specialist diabetes clinic under the care of a consultant, but the clinics are badly backlogged due to Covid which has dramatically increased their workload, so it may take some persistence on your part to push for that.

 

[frozenout]

The two most recognized tests for Type 1 are GAD antibody test and C-peptide.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the beta cells in the pancreas which produce insulin, meaning that they die off and you become unable to produce enough to process the glucose in your blood. This means that the cells of the body body have to start burning their own fat stores for energy instead because they can't access the glucose. The GAD antibody is produced as a result of this immune system attack.
The C-peptide test is a measure of how much insulin the body is actually producing. Many Type 2 diabetics, particularly those newly diagnosed are often producing excess insulin to try to overcome the insulin resistance which is a common feature of Type 2, so an above average C-peptide test would suggest Type 2 but a lower range reading together with a positive GAD would suggest Type 1. If you are able, ask to have a blood C-peptide test as oppose to a urine test as blood is more reliable. Unfortunately the blood sample has to be frozen immediately and sent off to the lab frozen so the urine test is logistically easier (doesn't need freezing) but can lead to the results being less than helpful, so offer to go to your main hospital to have the blood sample taken and frozen if necessary.

Type 1 diabetes developing in later life is often much slower to exhibit and may initially appear to respond to dietary changes and/or Type 2 oral meds but once you get past a tipping point where the remaining beta cells are not numerous enough to cope with the workload, you see the more common Type 1 symptoms and in particular unexplained weight loss. Many GPs are under the misapprehension that Type 1 only develops in children and young adults and so, assume that if you are a mature adult, you must have Type 2, but there are lots of us here on the forum who were diagnosed Type 1 later in life. I was 56.

Anyway, I hope the above gives you a bit more information. Ideally you would want a referral to a specialist diabetes clinic under the care of a consultant, but the clinics are badly backlogged due to Covid which has dramatically increased their workload, so it may take some persistence on your part to push for that.

Bowled over by the depth of information and the time you took to respond.

Regard this as your good deed for the day