Back to square one...

[Persil]

Sorry, but what's a WASP?!

I know that when she went to the diabetes centre previously (before the glucose intollerance test) they were constantly talking about type 1. When we went to the GP way back in February, she did have glucose and ketones in her urine, but she wasn't high enough for a firm diagnosis. Similar thing happened at the diabetes centre -- her levels were high, but not high enough for a diagnosis, hence the glucose intollerance test. I've been testing her using my meter at least once a day or when ever she asks (usually when she feels very bad). Her highest reading has been 19.1mmol, but usually we're looking at a level between 12mmol and 16mmol (clearly not normal for a non-diabetic).

And although her mum is glucose intollerant, she's never had problems like my friend does. Her mum came to our flat recently and spoke to me and asked questions about how her daughter had been, and what we were doing with regard to doctors/hospital etc. And I too asked about glucose intollerance, and the problems she faces to see if it matched to anything I'd seen with my friend. From what I can gather, she's never had a problem like this, which leads me to believe it's more diabetes related.

We're all just frustrated. We're part of a very close group of friends at uni, and we're all struggling now to watch her suffer, especially me, as next tuesday (29th) marks my one year as a diabetic, so it's all very fresh for me. I know how scared she is about everything, and all I want to do is wave a magic wand and make it all go away for her. But I can't do that. So I, and other friends, do all we can to make her feel "normal". We don't let her see us worry. It's just so, so hard to watch someone I'm close to go through this

Vicki
xxx

 

[Northerner]

Vicki, I'm sure she is very grateful for all the support you and your other friends have been giving her 🙂 It could be that she is a slow-onset Type 1. My consultant is fairly sure I had this for two years or more leading up to my diagnosis, but because I was a very active runner during that period I managed to get by. The main thing to watch out for in the next couple of weeks before the proper diagnosis, is possible illnesses which may send her levels even higher and produce ketones, as you know. This is what finally did it for me - a stomach bug just pushed my pancreas over the edge. At the time I didn't know what was happeneing, but you and your friends are monitoring the situation carefully, so you will be in a good position to act.

 

[Adrienne]

Vicki, I think you (and you group of friends) are absolutely bloody marvellous (am I allowed to say that). To have a group so supportive is just amazing plus you know what you are talking about which just adds to the support in a way that most pre diabetics don't have (if this is what she is and it is pointing to it).

She is more likely to be type 1 but she could potentially be 2. This could just be a long slow process of getting to it which can happen in type 1 as well.

However it could come up and bite her on the nose very very quickly re DKA, so you and her need to keep on your toes.

I would phone the GP again, this afternoon. You should probably do that as you know what you are talking about. It may be that your friend will have to write down that she gives the GP permission to talk to you about her, but that is ok and not a bad thing to do purely because you know what you are on about.

I reckon if she was eating normally she would possibly be out of control now.

Just keep on and on at the GP, especially if he was a good guy in the first place.

I am wishing you luck. (no idea what a WASP is by the way except a little buzzy thing that stings you). 😉

 

[Copepod]

Ethnicity is also a factor. South Asians about five times more likely to be T2 than Europeans.
Is Persil's friend a WASP ?

11.1 at the 2 hour mark of an OGTT is definitely the criteria for dxing T2 diabetes. For a suspected T1 they would test for ketones not send the person for an OGTT surely???

Sounds like she is not T1 or T2 perhaps. Now we hear her mother was IGT but the criteria for that is 7.8 to 11.0 at the 2 hour mark of the OGTT. Persil's friend was beyond that at 11.8.

Best wait for the two weeks for the proper interpretation of the OGTT while going back onto Persil's diet.

Not a term I'd use personally, but in the context of ethnicity, WASP stands for White Anglo Saxon Protestant.

 

[Persil]

Thanks Northener, I'm aware that illness may cause her sugar levels to spike significantly, but hearing about you has just emphasised just how careful we need to be, especially as she doesn't have a diagnosis as of yet.

Adrienne, what you said bought tears to my eyes. But it's because of the support that this forum gives me that I've been able to carry on as I am. I always come here for advice, and to check that I'm doing the right thing. I showed my friends the comment, and they too needed to hear that. They don't have the same level of understanding as I do, but they needed to hear that they were being great support, and it definitely had more weighting coming from you.

Vicki 🙂
xxx

 

[sofaraway]

From the results you have posted if the lab results match up then a diagnosis of diabetes will be made. The next step would be to try and find out which type she has. I would be requesting GAD antibodies as the first step. Sometimes though finding type isn't always so easy and finding the correct treatment is the first priority.

As Ellie_Jones has said it will likely take a few days at least for the results to get back to the GP, so might be too early to get in touch. Unless she becomes more unwell of course.

Good luck to you and your friend

 

[Adrienne]

Thanks Northener, I'm aware that illness may cause her sugar levels to spike significantly, but hearing about you has just emphasised just how careful we need to be, especially as she doesn't have a diagnosis as of yet.

Adrienne, what you said bought tears to my eyes. But it's because of the support that this forum gives me that I've been able to carry on as I am. I always come here for advice, and to check that I'm doing the right thing. I showed my friends the comment, and they too needed to hear that. They don't have the same level of understanding as I do, but they needed to hear that they were being great support, and it definitely had more weighting coming from you.

Vicki 🙂
xxx

I'm glad I could help and if showing your friends that they are doing good helps them keep on, then that is fine.

You'll get there, and your friend will have a great person to look up to and get help from.

I find it helps me by supporting and helping others, odd but it does and maybe you are finding that too. Take care. 🙂

 

[Persil]

Adrienne, I do cope in the same way as you -- helping others and seeing them happy is what keeps me going. If everyone else around me is happy, I'm happy.

Vicki 🙂
xxx

 

[Alan S]

My friend's 19, and not overweight, so I think that rules type 2 out, yes?!

Actually, no.

Although it is not common for type 2 diabetes to be diagnosed in the young and fit, it can still happen. I have encountered several type 2's on other forums who were lean and in their 20s or early 30s at diagnosis.

That does not mean your friend is type 2, just that it remains one of the options.

 

[Mark T]

In this presentation on MODY from Exeter, slide 5 shows the age of diagnosis against (simplified) type of diabetes. Although there are type ages of diagnosis - there are always exceptions to any rule.

Another paper I saw somewhere else (sorry can't remember and forgot to bookmark it) stated that if the genetic risk factors for type 2 where inherited from both parents, it was likely that the onset would be much earlier then normal.

That said, the presence of ketones would tend to push it more towards a type 1 variant for me - but I'm not a medical specialist 🙂.