Hello

[jen b]

Hi, my partner has just in the last few days at the age of 47 been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It was discovered purely by accident during a recent routine blood test. She wasn’t feeling unwell and had no symptoms and so as you can imagine it was a total out of the blue shock. I’m here really to find out info on living with diabetes and any advice on ways to support her going through this. She is a resolute type but I know she is struggling with the diagnosis, especially as it’s only been a week so far and came out of nowhere.
I shall have a read of the subjects and posts.
Cheers
Jen

 

[leonS]

Welcome! You have made a good start in your quest for knowledge.

This case is unusual for several reasons:
First your partner's age. A little old for the onset of type 1.

1. Not impossible but not the norm.
2. The diagnosis: most doctors would jump to the conclusion that this was type 2, based on age and lack of other indications. Not always correct but right most of the time.
3. The difference between type 2 and early type 1 is difficult to detect and needs specialist interpretation of the results of special tests, which might not have been done for a routine exam.
4. Many doctors would say that at this age the diagnosis is type 1.5 or LADA. (late onset type 1). If they had made the diagnosis of type 1 in the first place.

Which leads me to ask are you sure that you were told type 1, and how was the diagnosis made?

Types 1 and 2 are NOT the same and the treatment is very different.

 

[jen b]

Hi, yes sorry I'm a little unknowing about diabetes yet, but it is type 1.5 LADA diabetes. She has tested positive for antibodies and her ketones are high. She is testing levels for ketones and blood sugar 6 times a day so it can be worked out what insulin levels she needs and is back looking at the weeks results on Thursday.

 

[jen b]

To be honest I didn't even know that such a thing as 1.5 exists, I've only heard of type 1 and type 2 before this week.

 

[stephknits]

Hi and welcome to the forum! You will find there are lots of us late starters here on the forum, so your partner is not alone! I was diagnosed at 42. I believe about half of newly diagnosed type 1s are adults. It is a huge shock and a lot to get your head around, but you have come to a good place. Loads of people who get it.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

Hello Jen, and welcome 🙂

I was diagnosed with type 1 at the age of 44 - as Steph says, there are quite a few of us on here who were diagnosed with it as adults, so it's not uncommon at all. Type 1.5 is basically the same as type 1, it's just slower onset, which explains why your partner hadn't had symptoms yet. It's really good that they realised she had type 1 right away, as many medical professionals do leap to the conclusion that any adult with diabetes must be type 2, and it can take months (or in some cases even years) for people to get a proper diagnosis if that happens.

This page has a lot of links for newly diagnosed, both type 1s and general, so you and/or your partner might find it helpful.

And a lot of people here recommend this book (ignore the ages given in the title, it's suitable for adults with diabetes too!).

If you have any questions, just ask - someone here is sure to be able to help.

 

[jen b]

Many thanks Steph and Juliet.
I think we were lucky with having a decent doctor who looked fully into what type it was.. also my partners mum has MS which is autoimmune, perhaps that prompted something in the docs thoughts. I have to say the doc and the diabetes nurse have been really great so far and kept in a lot of contact including phone calls between appointments.
I shall definitely go and have a look at your reading recommendations.

Jen

 

[KARNAK]

Hi @jen b welcome to the forum.🙂 Sorry about your partners diagnosis, (DX), I was DX at 63 with a HbA1c of 156 ketones well we won`t go there. It will all come good with a bit of training, great the Doc & Nurse are supportive as is the forum members for you both, take care.

 

[leonS]

Jan
You have not got a decent doctor there, you have a super one! To have made the diagnosis and confirmed it with an antibody tests is top hole. Please pass on a pat on the back from me.

Over the next few years you must expect insulin requirement to increase so the monitoring will need to be done all the time, but you have the correct diagnosis and the correct treatment, which is great!

Good luck!

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @jen b, from another late starter with T1. I was 53 at diagnosis, and have found that it is a lot more common than I had thought, with about 50% of T1s diagnosed as adults.

As others have said it is good that your partner was diagnosed straight away, as many GPs make assumptions that if over 40 it must be T2. I also had a GP that picked it up quickly, but perhaps losing a stone and a half in a week was a bit of a clue, along with all the other usual symptoms.

It is a lot to take on board very quickly and things are often very unpredictable at the start so patience is needed. The pancreas often has a few remaining beta cells that are responsible for making insulin. At diagnosis they will have gone on strike and then, with the injections of insulin they get a bit of a rest, and then decide to join in again SOMETIMES.

The book by Ragnar Hanas is very useful. I still dip into it even after 11 years, and I certainly don’t fit the age description.

If you have any questions at all just ask. No questions are considered silly on here, and there will be someone around who can help.