Diagnosed today

[ET6]

Hi, I’ve just been told I have Type 1 following an antibody test coming back positive. I’m 44 and had pre-diabetes for 10 years following gestational diabetes, during which time my yearly check up HbA1c results slowly got higher and higher despite a good diet, active lifestyle and healthy BMI.
Not on medication yet - have just been referred to the hospital.
What do you think medication/ treatment might look like for me going forward?
Is insulin likely? CGM?
Thank you

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi, I’ve just been told I have Type 1 following an antibody test coming back positive. I’m 44 and had pre-diabetes for 10 years following gestational diabetes, during which time my yearly check up HbA1c results slowly got higher and higher despite a good diet, active lifestyle and healthy BMI.
Not on medication yet - have just been referred to the hospital.
What do you think medication/ treatment might look like for me going forward?
Is insulin likely? CGM?
Thank you

Welcome to the forum
If Type 1 then certainly insulin and you should be prescribed a CGM and the various eye and foot checks and be referred for a carb counting course DAFNE or your local equivalent but may be not immediately.
Do come and ask any questions and hopefully people will be able to reassure you about what to expect.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @ET6 🙂 Yes, insulin is likely because Type 1s all need insulin eventually as our own beta cells are destroyed. However, don’t let this worry you. It’s a good thing. As you appear to have a slower-onset Type 1, the sooner you can get insulin the better really as studies suggest that early introduction of insulin can help preserve your remaining beta cells for longer.

I know at least three women who were thought to have Gestational Diabetes but turned out to have Type 1, so you’re not alone. What was your HbA1C? What are your daily blood sugars like

 

[mashedupmatt]

Hi @ET6 and welcome to the forum - if you have a T1 diagnosis it will be Insulin treatment immediately - there are plenty of people here (myself included) who have been diagnosed in our forties and you should be given a CGM as a matter of course - It's quite scary, but feel free to ask any questions you may have however "silly" or trivial they may seem - we're all here to help

 

[dannybgoode]

As it's T1 you should be seen quickly, probably even today, and yes - it's very likely to be an immediate start on insulin.

I was partly diagnosed (type still not determined) a week ago and in the absence of the antibody results, they've assumed T1 for now and sent me home with insulin etc.

It can all be a bit of a blur when they're going through everything and there is a lot of information to try and take in. If someone can go to the appointment with you that is often helpful and if anything is unclear ask the nurse or whoever you see to go over it again.

And yes, do all about questions on here. I've already had plenty and everyone has been really helpful.

And yes, you should be offered a CGM however if you haven't already, you'll need to get used to a finger prick test as well (although I appreciate having had gestational diabetes you may already have done these before).

 

[ET6]

Welcome @ET6 🙂 Yes, insulin is likely because Type 1s all need insulin eventually as our own beta cells are destroyed. However, don’t let this worry you. It’s a good thing. As you appear to have a slower-onset Type 1, the sooner you can get insulin the better really as studies suggest that early introduction of insulin can help preserve your remaining beta cells for longer.

I know at least three women who were thought to have Gestational Diabetes but turned out to have Type 1, so you’re not alone. What was your HbA1C? What are your daily blood sugars like

Hi,
Thanks for your reply ☺️
I have nothing to monitor daily blood sugars at the moment. HbA1C is 53.
I would like to check sugars as I try so hard with diet (with the occasional treat ) I’d like to see what affects them.

 

[ET6]

Welcome to the forum
If Type 1 then certainly insulin and you should be prescribed a CGM and the various eye and foot checks and be referred for a carb counting course DAFNE or your local equivalent but may be not immediately.
Do come and ask any questions and hopefully people will be able to reassure you about what to expect.

Thank you.
This looks a useful forum so yes - I’ll be asking questions

 

[Alan44]

Welcome to the forum @ET6

There are many T1's on the forum with years of experience who will be in a position to offer help and advice.
As others have said, ask as many questions as you wish and we will try to help.

Take care
Alan 😉

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @ET6

With an HbA1c at 53 it seems likely to me (though I have no medical training) that you must still have some residual beta cells helping you out.

As @Inka says, starting insulin early (even on very low doses) has been shown to help preserve your ‘home grown’ insulin production for longer. But you don’t want to get into a pickle with too much circulating insulin that needs to be fed to avoid hypos, so have a proper discussion with the hospital team about pros and cons of any suggested med and decide a way forwards.

Eg some people are recommended oral meds, but these can push the remaining beta cells harder to make up for their diminishing number, and may burn them out.

It’ll be about balancing the pros and cons for you as an individual.

 

[Leadinglights]

Usually it is when people present with dangerously high blood glucose level (which yours isn't) with other symptoms that the tests for Type 1 would be done and people would be given immediate insulin or if people have been taking oral medications and their blood glucose is still sky high.
So yours seems quite an unusual situation unless there are factors you haven't mentioned which led them to do those tests.
Anyway as mentioned do have a conversation about your way forward in terms of medication and diet sooner rather than later. At the very least you should be prescribed a home testing blood glucose monitor and strips so I would contact someone either the clinic or GP today to get that and also some ketone urine test strips to keep a check on that.

 

[ET6]

Hi @ET6 and welcome to the forum - if you have a T1 diagnosis it will be Insulin treatment immediately - there are plenty of people here (myself included) who have been diagnosed in our forties and you should be given a CGM as a matter of course - It's quite scary, but feel free to ask any questions you may have however "silly" or trivial they may seem - we're all here to help

Thank you - appreciate the reply.
I know there’s a referral to the hospital will just have to wait to see what they say.

 

[ET6]

Welcome to the forum @ET6

There are many T1's on the forum with years of experience who will be in a position to offer help and advice.
As others have said, ask as many questions as you wish and we will try to help.

Take care
Alan 😉

Thank you ☺️

 

[ET6]

Hi @ET6 and welcome to the forum - if you have a T1 diagnosis it will be Insulin treatment immediately - there are plenty of people here (myself included) who have been diagnosed in our forties and you should be given a CGM as a matter of course - It's quite scary, but feel free to ask any questions you may have however "silly" or trivial they may seem - we're all here to help

Thank you ☺️

 

[ET6]

Welcome to the forum @ET6

With an HbA1c at 53 it seems likely to me (though I have no medical training) that you must still have some residual beta cells helping you out.

As @Inka says, starting insulin early (even on very low doses) has been shown to help preserve your ‘home grown’ insulin production for longer. But you don’t want to get into a pickle with too much circulating insulin that needs to be fed to avoid hypos, so have a proper discussion with the hospital team about pros and cons of any suggested med and decide a way forwards.

Eg some people are recommended oral meds, but these can push the remaining beta cells harder to make up for their diminishing number, and may burn them out.

It’ll be about balancing the pros and cons for you as an individual.

Thank you- will take that into consideration. Hoping I can talk to someone soon.

 

[ET6]

Usually it is when people present with dangerously high blood glucose level (which yours isn't) with other symptoms that the tests for Type 1 would be done and people would be given immediate insulin or if people have been taking oral medications and their blood glucose is still sky high.
So yours seems quite an unusual situation unless there are factors you haven't mentioned which led them to do those tests.
Anyway as mentioned do have a conversation about your way forward in terms of medication and diet sooner rather than later. At the very least you should be prescribed a home testing blood glucose monitor and strips so I would contact someone either the clinic or GP today to get that and also some ketone urine test strips to keep a check on that.

Apparently according to my referral letter -I’m not entirely straightforward. I know everyone’s experience of diabetes is very individual so hopefully talking to specialists will help sort out what is going on.
I rang docs today but they’ve said I have to wait for the hospital to be in touch now as it’s gone beyond their expertise. More waiting…

 

[Leadinglights]

Apparently according to my referral letter -I’m not entirely straightforward. I know everyone’s experience of diabetes is very individual so hopefully talking to specialists will help sort out what is going on.
I rang docs today but they’ve said I have to wait for the hospital to be in touch now as it’s gone beyond their expertise. More waiting…

Lets hope it won't be long, however they could still prescribe you a monitor and test strips as well as some ketone dip sticks to be on the safe side. I should definitely ask as soon as you can.