Hi

[garymedic1]

Morning,

Thought I'd say hello...

I'm newly diagnosed, and it's all a bit of a whirlwind to be honest. I was diagnosed from a routine blood test for an unrelated minor complaint, and my feet haven't really touched the ground since.

I am asymptomatic (if you discount the high BMs on testing) although my initial results were random blood glucose of 22.9 mmol/l and my HbA1c of 112 mmol/mol

Looking forward to pointers and lots of advice.

TTFN

Gary

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Gary and welcome.

It is unusual to get a LADA diagnosis straight away so it sounds like your team may be on the ball.

What medication have they started you on? I am assuming you have insulin(s) Hopefully a basal/bolus system with a long acting insulin for your background needs and a quick acting insulin for meals. Would be interested to know which ones?

It is all really overwhelming at first but you will soon get the hang of it. The analogy of learning to drive is often used. When you are new to driving you have to think about every little thing like changing gear and indicators and looking in the mirror and steering but after a while you do most of those things without even thinking and just have to keep an eye open for hazards like someone braking sharply in front of you etc. You will soon be estimating carbs on a plate at a glance and calculating how much insulin you need and injecting it and it being so automatic that you sometimes stop and think..."Did I actually inject that insulin?" because it becomes so routine. I would just like to add that it has it's frustrations and things rarely run smoothly for long so it certainly has it's challenges, but if you stick with us on the forum here we should be able to help you meet and beat them.

Are you monitoring your BG levels with finger pricks and a BG meter or have they given you Freestyle Libre? The technology now for managing diabetes is fantastic and really makes living with the condition so much easier.

Look forward to hearing more from you soon. If you have any questions, just ask.

 

[garymedic1]

Hi,

I think that my team are pretty much on the ball - although I have only spoken to my nurse a few times and not met anyone else from the team as yet. I was diagnosed with diabetes on the Friday and received a positive Anti-GAD antibody result on the Tuesday - so it may be luck in timing possibly.

On the Friday, I was prescribed Gliclazide 80mg bd and Metformin 500mg bd, but after the anti-GAD ab result, the Metformin was suspended and I was given a Lantus Solostar device to be used in the mornings and I'm currently at 12iu. I have been provided with Novorapid insulin, but am not using it yet. The idea is that eventually I will progress on to a basal/bolus system when my pancreas finally keels over. Got to be honest, not really enjoying the injecting part, but I'm sure I'll get used to it more and more.

I'm on a Freestyle Optimum Neo BG and Ketone meter at the moment.

Thanks for the welcome!

 

[rebrascora]

The fact that they did a GAD antibody test straight away is amazing and the result came back so quickly. Good to hear that they have set you up with a basal/bolus insulin system. Are you still on the Gliclazide? I would want to be stopping that with you being LADA as it is just flogging a dying horse trying to get your remaining (flagging) beta cells to pump out more insulin as that will make them more likely to get wiped out altogether quicker. If you ease their work load by injecting insulin then you can preserve them for as long as possible, so hopefully they have stopped the Glic as well as the Met.

 

[garymedic1]

Well... I am still on the Gliclazide for the time being. Whilst what you have said is very logical, I have literally just taken their advice completely so far, as I said, its been a whirlwind. I am hoping that, at some point soon, I shall see an endocrinologist, and I can get a better handle on everything. My diabetic specialist nurse has been great in teaching me a lot about the day-to-day things to look out for, and how to fix things if needed (although I have yet to have a hypo and my BMs are generally late single figures to early teens) but slowly and surely I need to learn the aspects of my new life, and I think I probably need, along with this site, to see an endocrinologist for this.

 

[SB2015]

Well... I am still on the Gliclazide for the time being. Whilst what you have said is very logical, I have literally just taken their advice completely so far, as I said, its been a whirlwind. I am hoping that, at some point soon, I shall see an endocrinologist, and I can get a better handle on everything. My diabetic specialist nurse has been great in teaching me a lot about the day-to-day things to look out for, and how to fix things if needed (although I have yet to have a hypo and my BMs are generally late single figures to early teens) but slowly and surely I need to learn the aspects of my new life, and I think I probably need, along with this site, to see an endocrinologist for this.

Welcome to the forum Gary from another late starter (53 at diagnosis)

Great to hear that your team are in the ball and working their way towards the basal/bolus regime with you. It is a lot to take in at the start, but if you are managing at present with just the Lantus (Basal) insulin then it sounds like it has been picked up whilst you still have some beta cells helping you out.

If you want some useful books to look at I would recommend these. They will prepare you for your T1/LADA journey.
- Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Sheiner
- Type1 Diabetes in Children, adolescents and Young Adults. Ignore the age reference,just ignore the chapter on going to school. It is the clearest book I came across and kept up to date.

The injections do get easier to manage. What needles are you using? I started on some longer needles but was pleased when shorter ones were brought in. I have ended up dropping from 12 mm needles down to 4 mm needles which were a lot more comfortable to use. There are also different manufacturers so if you are finding you get bruises it is worth asking for a change to shorter/better Needles.

Enough from me for now. As you say it is a bit of a whirlwind at the start. You have a good team working with you, and access to loads of experience on here. Do ask any questions that arise. Nothing is considered silly on here. Just ask.

 

[garymedic1]

Welcome to the forum Gary from another late starter (53 at diagnosis)

Great to hear that your team are in the ball and working their way towards the basal/bolus regime with you. It is a lot to take in at the start, but if you are managing at present with just the Lantus (Basal) insulin then it sounds like it has been picked up whilst you still have some beta cells helping you out.

If you want some useful books to look at I would recommend these. They will prepare you for your T1/LADA journey.
- Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Sheiner
- Type1 Diabetes in Children, adolescents and Young Adults. Ignore the age reference,just ignore the chapter on going to school. It is the clearest book I came across and kept up to date.

The injections do get easier to manage. What needles are you using? I started on some longer needles but was pleased when shorter ones were brought in. I have ended up dropping from 12 mm needles down to 4 mm needles which were a lot more comfortable to use. There are also different manufacturers so if you are finding you get bruises it is worth asking for a change to shorter/better Needles.

Enough from me for now. As you say it is a bit of a whirlwind at the start. You have a good team working with you, and access to loads of experience on here. Do ask any questions that arise. Nothing is considered silly on here. Just ask.

Hi,

It is an amazing amount to try and process - just over a week ago, I was a fit, healthy soldier with no health conditions, and yet now, this morning; I have just returned from my first diabetic retinopathy assessment! The world seems to have been turned on its head.

I have heard of the Pancreas book you have mentioned and will buy it later. Who is the author for the other book?

I'm using 4mm needles - in truth they are ok to use - only had one bruise so far - just not generally a fan of injecting but I suppose no one is 🙂

 

[rebrascora]

Ragnor Hanas is the author of the second book mentioned. Both are highly recommended by members of the forum.

 

[SB2015]

Hi,

It is an amazing amount to try and process - just over a week ago, I was a fit, healthy soldier with no health conditions, and yet now, this morning; I have just returned from my first diabetic retinopathy assessment! The world seems to have been turned on its head.

I have heard of the Pancreas book you have mentioned and will buy it later. Who is the author for the other book?

I'm using 4mm needles - in truth they are ok to use - only had one bruise so far - just not generally a fan of injecting but I suppose no one is 🙂

Sorry. The author of the other book is Ragnar Hanas.

You are starting from a good position. You ARE fit and healthy, you have no other health conditions, you just have T1 diabetes now. This does not need to stop you doing things, and won’t once you have got your management sorted. You just need to become your own pancreas.

Be patient with yourself. Keep in touch with your team.

 

[SB2015]

Ps
The retinopathy screening you have just had will become part of your annual MOT which you will now get. I find it good that everything is so closely monitored for us, and they can pick up any issues quickly.

 

[PattiEvans]

Just wanted to say Hi Gary. Glad you got a proper diagnosis at the start! I had to battle for 8 years + to get the tests proving I was T1. I think you will drop into the new way of life quite easily from now on as you've had a good start. The others have said what needs saying for now, but do ask any questions, nothing is regarded as a silly question.

 

[garymedic1]

So...

A bit of an update...my wife bought me a book on diabetes, and in the back amongst the 'Useful Links' was the Type I Diabetes Research Forum website. So I looked at their website, and applied to be involved in trials. Considering I'm currently based in Cardiff with the University Hospital of Wales and Cardiff University, a Research nurse got straight back in touch with a possibility of a research project in a new immunotherapy drug designed to preserve pancreatic function.

To cut a long story short, she asked me about my drug regimen over the past week and a half, and was concerned with my LADA diagnosis and the continued use of Gliclazide, and her colleague, a Professor who will remain nameless, contacted my team with some concerns, so watch this space

 

[PattiEvans]

How very interesting re the glic. Glad the nurse has contacted your team as it did seem odd to be left on it with added exogenous insulin. I have been involved in some research from the same website over the years. Some has been quite interesting.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @garymedic1

Great that you’ve volunteered to be part of a research project too - do let us know how that works out as it sounds fascinating!

I’m also quietly pleased that the forum‘s raised eyebrow over continuing Glic has been supported. If it’s the Professor I think it is at Cardiff (and I’m sure it is as immunotherapy is his thing) he was once my consultant. He really knows his stuff and has quite the global reputation in immunotherapy research.