In the process of being diagnosed

[Bunny74]

Hi there. My doctor has advised me this week that I have diabetes, but he isn't sure if I have type 1 or 2.
I am 35, my mum (now 63) has been type 1 since age 12, her sister developed type 1 in her mid 30s, and her son, my cousin, has been type 1 from a young age. My blood glucose has been steadily rising over a period of a year and is now at 11.8. I am continually thirsty and have various other symptoms. However, the doc can't put me in either box - any ideas?!!

 

[Old Holborn]

Hi there. My doctor has advised me this week that I have diabetes, but he isn't sure if I have type 1 or 2.
I am 35, my mum (now 63) has been type 1 since age 12, her sister developed type 1 in her mid 30s, and her son, my cousin, has been type 1 from a young age. My blood glucose has been steadily rising over a period of a year and is now at 11.8. I am continually thirsty and have various other symptoms. However, the doc can't put me in either box - any ideas?!!

Hi Bunny. Sorry can't help, just a welcome to forum.

 

[Steff]

Hi bunny and firstly welcome maybe the doctor could do what mine did with me he started me as diet and exercise that did not work then i went on pills and then i guess if that dont work for me i will go on insulin, I guess he dont want to pinpoint you a type and then later on down the track find out you where mis-diagnosed which is what has happened to a few in here.I do hope things get sorted as im sure you would like to know one way or another.

 

[Bunny74]

Hi bunny and firstly welcome maybe the doctor could do what mine did with me he started me as diet and exercise that did not work then i went on pills and then i guess if that dont work for me i will go on insulin, I guess he dont want to pinpoint you a type and then later on down the track find out you where mis-diagnosed which is what has happened to a few in here.I do hope things get sorted as im sure you would like to know one way or another.

Thanks for that. I am a bit frustrated that the diabetic nurse at my docs hasn't got any appointments for at least 10 days - what's that all about?! Also, feel quite sad for my mum as she blames herself although it's something she doesn't have any control over. Anyway, it's bound to happen whether type 1 or 2 and I'll deal with it. Having all the tests done now so will find out soon enough..........

 

[Steff]

Thanks for that. I am a bit frustrated that the diabetic nurse at my docs hasn't got any appointments for at least 10 days - what's that all about?! Also, feel quite sad for my mum as she blames herself although it's something she doesn't have any control over. Anyway, it's bound to happen whether type 1 or 2 and I'll deal with it. Having all the tests done now so will find out soon enough..........

Goodness me bunny at my place it can be as long as 3 weeks but yes it will be frustrating as you just want to know, please come back on and let us know what the outcome is wont you , Im sure your mum is feeling the same as many others have she just needs reassurance its not her fault xxx

 

[Bunny74]

I will don't you worry!!! Have a good day.🙂

 

[am64]

good luck..welcome to the forum! the ability to get gp appointments seems to vary throughout the country..at mine in if i phone in the morning i can see a gp the same day but Im very Lucky ..good luck

 

[Northerner]

Hi Bunny, welcome to the forum🙂 For some reason doctors appear to be reluctant to give a definite answer to the question 'what type of diabetes do I have?' when you are an adult. I was diagnosed aged 49 and they wouldn't tell me either! Given that I was virtually comatose with DKA at diagnosis though, it was fairly obvious that I had Type 1 as Type 2 is far less likely to get DKA. It may be that your pancreas is failing more slowly than it would in a child, so diabetes has a less dramatic entry into your life. Your family history would suggest a strong link with Type 1.

Was the blood test a fingerprick test or an HbA1C test? If it was just a random fingerprick test then 11.x is high but not hugely high. Keep drinking lots of fluids and reduce your carb intake until you can see the doctor again to help keep your levels lower.

 

[Peter C]

Thanks for that. I am a bit frustrated that the diabetic nurse at my docs hasn't got any appointments for at least 10 days - what's that all about?! .

Hi there,
It's about 1000s of diabetics in your neighbourhood and a shortage of trained people (Endocrinologists, GPwSI in Diabetes and DSNs). Is your nurse actually a fully trained DSN - they are a rare bird becaue they are "so" expensive to train and to keep.

Theoretically, at 35, you are too "old" for what used to be called Juvenile Onset Diabetes ( Type 1 )and too "young" for what used to be called Adult Onset Diabetes ( Type 2). They had to change the nomenclature because of a growing number of anomalies such as yourself in the 1980s.
If you had presented with DKA you would have been dxed as T1 without any fuss, if you had presented with H.O.N.K. you would have been dxed as T2 straight off. But you have just got a random test over 11.1 which could be either.
At the moment you need C-Peptide and GAD antibody tests to determine if you are T1 ( I assume those are the tests you are waiting for ?). Even if they are positive for T1 diabetes you might be put onto drugs for a time if you are in the Honeymoon period with your insulin production heading south at a slower rate ( rather than a catastrophic one).
If you are getting the tests I mentioned above you are a lucky bunny - many in your position/age are just dxed as T2 and treated as such until/unless it goes belly-up after the Honeymoon period is over.