Hi there , I’m new and just want to ask some advice. My partner has been diagnosed this week with type 2 and I’m worried about his weight as he has lost over 20kg in the last three months and is underweight. All the advice seems to be aimed for people to lose weight . Where can we go for advice?
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Being underweight with type 2
- Thread starter JayneyD
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rebrascora
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- Type 1
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Agree with @Inka that unexplained weight loss is a red flag for Type 1 diabetes or possibly Type 3c, but not Type 2.
If you can tell us a bit about how he came to be diagnosed, any symptoms he had and did they happen suddenly or did they just slowly creep up on him? Do you know what his HbA1c result was? This is the blood test used to diagnose and monitor your diabetes and will usually be a number in excess of 47 but can be into 3 figures if things have gone more seriously awry.
If you can tell us a bit about how he came to be diagnosed, any symptoms he had and did they happen suddenly or did they just slowly creep up on him? Do you know what his HbA1c result was? This is the blood test used to diagnose and monitor your diabetes and will usually be a number in excess of 47 but can be into 3 figures if things have gone more seriously awry.
rebrascora
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Also, have they prescribed him any medication and if so, what are they and how many has he been told to take?
SB2015
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Welcome to the forum @JayneyD and I am sorry to hear that your partner is struggling with his weight. This forum is a good place for practical advice from others living with diabetes, so I am pleased that you have come here.
It is not uncommon for adults to be misdiagnosed as T2 when they are actually T1, for which a common symptom is rapid weight loss (I lost 1 1/2 stone in 1 week just before diagnosis). I was 53 at diagnosis and there are plenty of others on here diagnosed as adults. In your partner's position I would go back to the GP and ask for tests to check whether he is T1. These are the Gad antibody test, and/or the c-peptide test. They are more expensive tests so GPs are often reluctant to use them.
There are also other T2s on here who do not need to lose weight, and I will leave them to advise on the strategies that they use to manage their diabetes. My only thoughts are to increase calorie intake whilst also keeping carbs (which become glucose) down.
It is not uncommon for adults to be misdiagnosed as T2 when they are actually T1, for which a common symptom is rapid weight loss (I lost 1 1/2 stone in 1 week just before diagnosis). I was 53 at diagnosis and there are plenty of others on here diagnosed as adults. In your partner's position I would go back to the GP and ask for tests to check whether he is T1. These are the Gad antibody test, and/or the c-peptide test. They are more expensive tests so GPs are often reluctant to use them.
There are also other T2s on here who do not need to lose weight, and I will leave them to advise on the strategies that they use to manage their diabetes. My only thoughts are to increase calorie intake whilst also keeping carbs (which become glucose) down.
Hi so he had hit burning feet and weight loss, also depression. Hot feet I mean.
He has been prescribed metformin and he takes his blood and it was 28, now it’s around 14-17.
He has been prescribed a blood pressure medication aswell as insulin to inject.
rebrascora
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Which insulin have they given him and when does he inject it and how many units?
If they have started him on insulin straight away then I am guessing his HbA1c was very high, especially if his BG levels were 30.
If they have started him on insulin straight away then I am guessing his HbA1c was very high, especially if his BG levels were 30.
Inka
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So he has insulin? That’s a relief, if so. He really does sound like he might be Type 1. Type 1 is a very different condition from Type 2. Type 1 is an auto-immune condition where the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. There are two blood tests that can help determine if he’s Type 1.
Type 1 is often misdiagnosed as Type 2 in adults, but it’s actually more common in adults than children.
Type 1 is often misdiagnosed as Type 2 in adults, but it’s actually more common in adults than children.
Bruce Stephens
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Presumably the diagnosis was from a GP? As others suggest, I think they should really be taking the possibility of Type 1 more seriously, so it's worth trying to get a referral to the local hospital team who'll hopefully look at that.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
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- Type 2
I would agree that the weight loss sends a red flag for Type 1.
Hopefully now he has insulin it will help but getting a correct diagnosis will be crucial in knowing how to manage his condition with respect to what will be a suitable dietary regime.
Hopefully now he has insulin it will help but getting a correct diagnosis will be crucial in knowing how to manage his condition with respect to what will be a suitable dietary regime.
Inka
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- Type 1
I’d be interested to know what insulin(s) he’s taking too @JayneyD I also second @Bruce Stephens suggestion of a referral.
- Relationship to Diabetes
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Sorry to hear about the confusion over your partner’s diabetes type.
It is not at all uncommon to be diagnosed with Type 1 as an adult. As many adults as children are diagnosed each year (so as @Inka says, there are actually more adults with T1 than children!) - but some healthcare professionals remain under the impression that it is a condition that only occurs in childhood.
Hopefully you can get access to some more specialist support from your local hospital clinic, and get some clarity about your partner’s diabetes type.
It is not at all uncommon to be diagnosed with Type 1 as an adult. As many adults as children are diagnosed each year (so as @Inka says, there are actually more adults with T1 than children!) - but some healthcare professionals remain under the impression that it is a condition that only occurs in childhood.
Hopefully you can get access to some more specialist support from your local hospital clinic, and get some clarity about your partner’s diabetes type.
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