Might Be LADA, Either Way I'm So Upset

[tasty_morsel]

The subject sort of sums it up. I've known for a week, but they don't know which type it is and urgently* needed to see me for further tests.

*30ish days later, nhs-style.

Tomorrow, I turn 40. I'm disabled from birth, but also I'm overweight through an accident which fractured my spine and did a heap of damage, leaving me in a wheelchair, unable to 'just keep moving'. My gene type is 'each look in the direction of a cake adds 2lb'.

I have autoimmune disorders, and disordered eating - I've had periods where I've become super unwell from starving myself over long periods of time, or severely restricting food. Other times, I've become overweight through being put on medication (mirtazipine, I'm looking at you, never again) and bingeing. My biggest issues currently are ARFID, the side effects of my current medication, and my being unable to exercise (trust me, even with my pre-existing conditions, I always adored being on the move - I miss it so much).

I've not told most people I know, about my diagnosis. A lot of people I'm in contact with, didn't know me before I got chonky. It's assumed all my problems are my fault, and/ or because of my weight, by people I meet. And the doctors I have, who elwerent around for the more svelte me. I can't deal with people's judgment.

This has been a huge blow for me, I'm currently dealing with a lot, and was in all honesty beginning to feel my wheel tipping over, and then BAM. Diabetes.

I'm super not enamoured by the idea of Metformin. I already suffer with severe nausea. I'm trying all the time to work on that. It leaves me miserable and unable to function. I've read through all the guidance I can find, and I've no idea if I have other options asides from one of several kinds of Metformin. Right now I don't even know if l be offered it seeing as I don't know what type I definitely am, and with how sick I've been, I don't know if I need insulin. I've had a lot of collapses at home. I put it all down to my dysautonomia because this summer was absolute hell for it.

I don't know if anyone will reply, or have answers, I need those further tests so I can help people find me answers. I wish there wasn't weeks til I can be seen. It's put a huge damper on my birthday. My partner has had to force me to order the cake I wanted. Because every food item I think of or see now, makes me think of a mouthful of death. Sorry for the hyperbole, this is my brain.

Please be gentle with me. I'm autistic and also currently suffering hard with depression.

 

[EmmaL76]

Hello! Don’t worry most people start off posting with similar feelings to yours. It’s not surprising with everything you have going on. We will definitely be gentle with you and there will so much useful advice on here for you. Do you know what you hba1c number was? If you do turn out to be a type 2 and its not too high you may be able to bring your blood sugar into range with diet. Diet really is the biggest way to make a difference. I was diagnosed at 43 a couple of years ago, my type is still unclear. The first thing you need is a c peptide test that will show how much insulin you are producing a lower score leans more towards type 1. Then an antibody test. Testing positive for any of the type 1 related antibodies is pretty definitive. Either way whatever type, we are your new friends and we are very pleased to meet you xx

 

[tasty_morsel]

Hello, and thank you for your reassurance.

My number was... Hang on... Ok, had to reset something to get in there. What does it mean? I don't know what the number is, whether it's not that bad or not.

 

[EmmaL76]

Hello, and thank you for your reassurance.

My number was... Hang on... Ok, had to reset something to get in there. What does it mean? I don't know what the number is, whether it's not that bad or not.

Nope that’s not too bad at all! I’m sure you will be given the opportunity to bring that down without medication if that’s what you would like to do

 

[EmmaL76]

Basically, your hba1c is the average blood sugar over the last 3 months. Not to be confused with the finger prick results you can do at home. They are different measurements

 

[tasty_morsel]

Ok. That's reassuring. I've been trying to reverse prediabetes on my own though, and it's lead me here.

I asked for help with controlling my weight and finding/ getting access to exercise which was manageable with my conditions, for years and years and was fobbed off repeatedly. After my accident I repeatedly visited my GPs asking for further help. They just kept pointing me back to moving more and eating less. It's just not helpful for someone with mobility issues and other joint and fatigue problems, and eating disorders.

I'd happily make changes, but I've made so many and tried so hard to work things out to be sustainable. I don't know what else I can do.

 

[EmmaL76]

I honestly know how hard it can be, I have a history of eating disorders and was diagnosed over the phone initially as a type 2 and told to try intermittent fasting and cut the sugar/carbs. I was already underweight. I went in to lose a lot more weight. I think the most important thing is to discover your type, and go from there.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @tasty_morsel

Goodness! What a lot you’ve got on your plate

Fortunately(?!) at 51 you are only a whisker over the diabetes line (48 and above gets you a diagnosis with diabetes), so you may find that a few modest tweaks to your meals and snacks will be all that is needed?

Would it trigger your disordered eating to keep a food diary? Many members find it very helpful to start with. Note down everything you eat and drink, along with a reasonable estimate of the total carbohydrate content in your meals and snacks (not just ‘of which sugars’).

It might sound like a bit of a faff, and will involve weighing portions, squinting at the fine print on packaging, and possibly looking up things on the internet, but it will give you a really good idea of which foods are the main sources of carbs in your menu. Once you can see which meals or snacks are your ‘big hitters’, and where carbs might be unexpectedly lurking, the process might also suggest some likely candidates for swaps, portion reductions, or using lower carb alternatives (eg celeriac or swede mash, or cauli ‘rice’).

Do your Dr and nurse know about the problems you’ve had with food in the past, to be able to support you better?

 

[tasty_morsel]

Thank you, both.

I've never received an iota of support with my eating problems. I was actually congratulated when I saw a GP in 2006 because I'd lost five stone in a very short timeframe, through starving myself and overexercising, he ignored what I told him and because I wasn't scales-underweight (I'm one of those unfortunates who weighs in heavier than they look - super skinny daughter has the same heavy frame thing going on) he said I'd done a good job and sent me off.

I went on to get pregnant a few months after that, and continued to lose weight during the pregnancy.

On the other hand, I can make myself throw up through overeating when I'm super upset or distressed or my ADHD isn't being controlled. So bad I wake in the night and have to go chuck.

No doctor has ever given a c**p about it.

I've never stopped reading packets, I have food intolerances and allergies, and am funny about what I'm eating. So from that side of things there wouldn't be much difference. I also know what's put me over into the diabetic diagnosis range. But it's things I feel I could have avoided with the right support. I don't think the right support exists though.

I could try typing exactly what's happened and what I've been eating and when, and what works for me and what doesn't, but I'm already worried how outing my posts are, and I'm so tired. I don't want anyone reading this to think I'm a defeatist though. My mindset is appalling right now but I'm very clearheaded. I'm just very down and experiencing autistic shutdown over and over at the moment. I think I'm just desperately worried that when I see the nurse, I'll be triggered AF, because whatever I go to the docs for, they bring up weight. It's like they think it's this elephant in the room which needs addressing - they don't seem to realise I'm sofa buddies with the elephant, we netflix and chill, I've made space in the room for the flipping elephant. They don't treat you like a person. They treat you like a fat person.

I've got to put on a happy face for the morning so my kids go to school thinking mum is going to have a nice day. Agh.

Thanks for all the kindness. I'm an absolute energy vampire right now but you've helped fill me back up somewhat. I'm going to try go to bed but I'll be back tomorrow.

 

[Leadinglights]

You would need some further tests to distinguish Type 1 or LADA from Type 2 and initially diagnosis is made on clinical presentation.
With an HbA1C of 51mmol/mol there is no reason with looking at your diet in particular your carbohydrate intake you shouldn't be able to get it down without medication if that is something you are wary of.
Finding a dietary approach that you enjoy is important as otherwise it will not be sustainable. There is no reason to eat foods you do not like as there are plenty of things you can eat.
You may find some suggestions in this link which would suit you. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
I followed the principals there and reduced my HbA1C from 50mmol/mol to 36 without meds, It took a few months but doing it slowly is better as it allows your body to adjust.

 

[Drummer]

I had almost half a century of being told that eating starch was healthy and that putting on weight was down to me being basically a bad person not doing as I was told.
Now that I have a diagnosis of type 2 and 5 years of eating low carb under my belt I am so much smaller in volume and a more normal shape. I was no longer diabetic after 80 days eating what made me feel a lot better, both mentally and physically.
You obviously have a lot more going on than I did - but my Hba1c was 91 and dropped to 41 in 6 months, so if low carb suits you and is effective, which it is for many who prove to be type 2s then it might be helpful until you can get tests done. I put on weight very easily, probably still would do except I am careful about the amount of carbohydrate I eat.
Hopefully you'll get all the testing you need to determine what type of diabetes you have, or at least determine if you are producing insulin yourself.
These years I eat twice a day and don't feel hungry.
On my birthdays I have salmon for breakfast, steak for dinner and a low carb trifle - other days are a bit less indulgent but not much less, and I can maintain my weightloss on it. For me diabetes is fairly irrelevant these days.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thanks for all the kindness. I'm an absolute energy vampire right now but you've helped fill me back up somewhat. I'm going to try go to bed but I'll be back tomorrow.

Don’t you worry about us, Feel free to pour it all out if you find that cathartic and helpful (though forum rules require you don’t talk about any specific Dr or healthcare professional either positively or negatively).

You can share as much or as little as you’d like.Obviously the forum is public, but we are all here to help and support each other.

As for diet tweaks… As the saying goes, “start where you are, use what you have, do what you can”.

It’s often best to make changes to your menu gradually - partly because they need to be sustainable long term, but also because very rapid and sudden changes to blood glucose levels are harder on the fine blood vessels, and changing things more gently will give your body time to adapt. Though at your starting point you may not have had such punishingly high glucose levels and may have a bit more freedom to cut back on things.

The important thing is to treat yourself as a unique, whole person. You have to find the approach that works for you and your body (and combination of other conditions). People here can share their own experiences, and what worked for them, but no one can tell you what you should do, either things you should/shouldn’t eat, or the approaches you should take - that’s for you to work out by yourself.

Let us know if you get any further checks organised to try to tie down your diabetes type. That will be an important part of the puzzle going forward.

 

[tasty_morsel]

Hello, thanks again. Didn't have time to come back, I turned 40 and spent the day ignoring the world.

I will come back when I know more. You've all been amazing.