New and quite confused

[Becky22]

Hi everyone,

I am female and 30 years old. My BMI is 24 and my dress size is 8-10. I run regularly usually around 5-15km and I do pole fitness to an intermediate to advanced level, so I carry some muscle which probably influences my BMI. I also like walking and salsa dancing with my boyfriend. My diet can definitely be improved (which I will start now) but I don’t eat tonnes in terms of quantity. There’s type 2 diabetes in my family. I am a scientist and generally have quite a stressful job but this has been like this for a number of years.

Last week I went to my GP as I’ve been experiencing what I thought were heart palpitations (they have now stopped). They did a blood test and was surprised that my HA1c level was 62 (he told me anything over 43 indicated diabetes). There appeared to be no ketones in my urine. We retested the blood and it was 60 so he told me I had type 2 diabetes which has been a massive shock. Even the GP was quite astonished. He said an appointment would be made with a diabetic nurse but I didn’t catch when it would be. I’m also waiting on some antibodies?

I’ve done some reading and discovered there other types of diabetes like MODY and LADA. How do they diagnose these types? Is it something I should ask for?

My family have recommend I take a week off work which I hate doing as I want to help my lab team as much as I can. Could stress be a big influencer in this? How would I specifically know that work stress has played a part?

Please could someone give me the names of the specific things I should be asking for? Is anyone else in a similar situation?

Thank you

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi everyone,

I am female and 30 years old. My BMI is 24 and my dress size is 8-10. I run regularly usually around 5-15km and I do pole fitness to an intermediate to advanced level, so I carry some muscle which probably influences my BMI. I also like walking and salsa dancing with my boyfriend. My diet can definitely be improved (which I will start now) but I don’t eat tonnes in terms of quantity. There’s type 2 diabetes in my family. I am a scientist and generally have quite a stressful job but this has been like this for a number of years.

Last week I went to my GP as I’ve been experiencing what I thought were heart palpitations (they have now stopped). They did a blood test and was surprised that my HA1c level was 62 (he told me anything over 43 indicated diabetes). There appeared to be no ketones in my urine. We retested the blood and it was 60 so he told me I had type 2 diabetes which has been a massive shock. Even the GP was quite astonished. He said an appointment would be made with a diabetic nurse but I didn’t catch when it would be. I’m also waiting on some antibodies?

I’ve done some reading and discovered there other types of diabetes like MODY and LADA. How do they diagnose these types? Is it something I should ask for?

My family have recommend I take a week off work which I hate doing as I want to help my lab team as much as I can. Could stress be a big influencer in this? How would I specifically know that work stress has played a part?

Please could someone give me the names of the specific things I should be asking for? Is anyone else in a similar situation?

Thank you

Hi Becky welcome to the forum
The antibody tests you mention are most likely to be a test to see if you are actually Type 1 as from what you say you don't quite fit the profile for Type 2. They do take a while to come back.
In the meantime you should be looking to reduce carbohydrates in your diet and replacing then with protein and healthy fats. It is ALL carbohydrates which convert to glucose not just 'sugar'.
Have a look at the Learning Zone (orange tab at the top) as it will help you get a better understanding of managing the condition. Your HbA1C is not desperately high but is over the diagnostic level of 48mmol/mol.
There is no need to panic but looking at your diet would be time well spent. Unless you feel unwell no real need to take time off work.

 

[Lily123]

I second everything @Leadinglights said but don’t reduce your carb intake too quickly as this can effect your eyesight.

 

[Docb]

Hi @Becky22 and welcome to the forum. Yes, there are a few of us out here who do not fit the "typical" profile of T2 but do not have the very high blood glucose levels and presence of ketones that put you clearly into the T1 box. Putting a label on what is going on is a bit tricky and quite what that label might be will depend very much on who you ask.

Don't know what sort of scientist you are but I used to be one (industrial R&D) and I have found it useful to think of my blood glucose chemistry as a semi chaotic system where a lot of things are going on and describing and predicting what might happen under a given set of circumstances on is fraught with difficulty. Labels don't really help. The most important thing is to look to see if you might be heading for classic T1 and that is the purpose of the antibody tests. Better warn you that as you increase your knowledge of diabetes you will find that the results of those tests are often not definitive!

In the meantime I suggest you do what you would do when faced with any scientific problem and that is to start to do your background research to get to understand what it is about. This site is a good place to start and the collective mind of the forum is a very good resource. Just ask questions!

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Becky22 🙂 I’d wait for the results of the antibodies test. That will help determine your diabetes type. Having Type 2 in your family puts you at increased risk, but it doesn’t mean you can’t have Type 1. It’s very important to rule out Type 1, which often comes on more slowly in adults.

So, that’s your priority - making sure you’re not actually Type 1. The antibodies tests do take a while to come through.

LADA is just a slower-onset form of Type 1. My consultant doesn’t even use the term and just calls it Type 1. MODY is genetic diabetes and comes in various types. The testing for that is expensive and rarely done. You wouldn’t be looking at that at this point in time.

My advice is to keep an open mind re whether you’re Type 1 or Type 2. Also, ask for copies of your test results, not just “normal”, “ok”, “fine”. I’d also jot down some family info about which relatives have Type 2 and at what age they developed it, etc.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

My family have recommend I take a week off work which I hate doing as I want to help my lab team as much as I can. Could stress be a big influencer in this? How would I specifically know that work stress has played a part?

You def do not need to take a week of work, There is no reason to do so what so ever.

 

[Eddy Edson]

It's quite possible to be just an everyday Type 2 without being "officially" overweight. That was me at diagnosis: BMI of 25, pretty active, not bad diet, yadda yadda yadda.

It's a matter of visceral fat (ie fat around yr liver, pancreas etc) + bad luck with genes dictating that you don't handle that very well + probably environmental factors. Sucks, but if you are like this, you can probably get rid of it by losing some weight.

On the other hand, you could be Type 1 or Type 1.5 or whatever instead, so it's good they're doing the antibody tests. You'll probably need to be a bit patient & maybe a bit pushy in getting the DX sorted, which also sucks, but on the other hand this is usually a pretty slow-moving condition and you have plenty of time for the sorting.

Anyway - good luck!

 

[Inka]

Age and sex are relevant too surely?

 

[Eddy Edson]

Age and sex are relevant too surely?

Doh! Yes 🙂

 

[EmmaL76]

Hi Becky, I’m similar to you. I had my antibodies tested and came back inconclusive, over a year down the line I’m classed as type Unknown . Bmi 19 at diagnosis , was a keen runner. MODY will usually come from a parent (but I suppose it has to start with someone) this has been suggested to me but there is literally zero chance of getting testing for that. I hope your tests give you some answers, please let us know how you get on with that.

People may disagree but stress was the only thing for me that I feel can of possibly contributed to my diagnosis. Some fairly big traumas Left me unable to sleep, or function properly. I could pinpoint the moment in time when I felt my body giving up on me. Saying that others can experience similar and not get the betes so do genetics play a part at this point ?

I wish you all the best with this. Xx

 

[Inka]

@Becky22 hasnt had the results of her antibody tests yet so this is a general comment as we don’t know her type. I posted this link yesterday and I think it’s helpful:

https://www.technologynetworks.com/...tus-and-treatment-possibilities-beyond-353685

The process of Type 1 takes time. It starts before you have any clue it’s going on, and it can progress quite slowly. There’s then a final shove sometimes that pushes you over the line. This shove can be illness, pregnancy, stress, etc. People sometimes focus on one thing that caused it and it’s always a recent thing, but the process will have been going on for some time before that thing.

 

[Becky22]

Hi Becky welcome to the forum
The antibody tests you mention are most likely to be a test to see if you are actually Type 1 as from what you say you don't quite fit the profile for Type 2. They do take a while to come back.
In the meantime you should be looking to reduce carbohydrates in your diet and replacing then with protein and healthy fats. It is ALL carbohydrates which convert to glucose not just 'sugar'.
Have a look at the Learning Zone (orange tab at the top) as it will help you get a better understanding of managing the condition. Your HbA1C is not desperately high but is over the diagnostic level of 48mmol/mol.
There is no need to panic but looking at your diet would be time well spent. Unless you feel unwell no real need to take time off work.

Thanks for your message. My dad is a retired dietitian so he has been helping me with what foods to change and what foods are still ok etc. I will just try and wait patiently for the antibodies. Thanks again

 

[Becky22]

I second everything @Leadinglights said but don’t reduce your carb intake too quickly as this can effect your eyesight.

Thank you, okie dokie I don’t think I’ve gone too extreme so far

 

[Becky22]

Hi @Becky22 and welcome to the forum. Yes, there are a few of us out here who do not fit the "typical" profile of T2 but do not have the very high blood glucose levels and presence of ketones that put you clearly into the T1 box. Putting a label on what is going on is a bit tricky and quite what that label might be will depend very much on who you ask.

Don't know what sort of scientist you are but I used to be one (industrial R&D) and I have found it useful to think of my blood glucose chemistry as a semi chaotic system where a lot of things are going on and describing and predicting what might happen under a given set of circumstances on is fraught with difficulty. Labels don't really help. The most important thing is to look to see if you might be heading for classic T1 and that is the purpose of the antibody tests. Better warn you that as you increase your knowledge of diabetes you will find that the results of those tests are often not definitive!

In the meantime I suggest you do what you would do when faced with any scientific problem and that is to start to do your background research to get to understand what it is about. This site is a good place to start and the collective mind of the forum is a very good resource. Just ask questions!

Thanks for your message. I’m an embryologist so don’t have a huge amount of knowledge of blood science! I will do some more reading, particularly when I know about these anti bodies!

 

[Becky22]

It's quite possible to be just an everyday Type 2 without being "officially" overweight. That was me at diagnosis: BMI of 25, pretty active, not bad diet, yadda yadda yadda.

It's a matter of visceral fat (ie fat around yr liver, pancreas etc) + bad luck with genes dictating that you don't handle that very well + probably environmental factors. Sucks, but if you are like this, you can probably get rid of it by losing some weight.

On the other hand, you could be Type 1 or Type 1.5 or whatever instead, so it's good they're doing the antibody tests. You'll probably need to be a bit patient & maybe a bit pushy in getting the DX sorted, which also sucks, but on the other hand this is usually a pretty slow-moving condition and you have plenty of time for the sorting.

Anyway - good luck!

It's quite possible to be just an everyday Type 2 without being "officially" overweight. That was me at diagnosis: BMI of 25, pretty active, not bad diet, yadda yadda yadda.

It's a matter of visceral fat (ie fat around yr liver, pancreas etc) + bad luck with genes dictating that you don't handle that very well + probably environmental factors. Sucks, but if you are like this, you can probably get rid of it by losing some weight.

On the other hand, you could be Type 1 or Type 1.5 or whatever instead, so it's good they're doing the antibody tests. You'll probably need to be a bit patient & maybe a bit pushy in getting the DX sorted, which also sucks, but on the other hand this is usually a pretty slow-moving condition and you have plenty of time for the sorting.

Anyway - good luck!

Yep maybe I am a straight forward type 2. But I don’t really carry weight around my belly which I read was another risk factor for type 2. Anyway I’m sure I could lose a couple of kgs and see if that makes any difference. Thanks, I will try to be pushy

It's quite possible to be just an everyday Type 2 without being "officially" overweight. That was me at diagnosis: BMI of 25, pretty active, not bad diet, yadda yadda yadda.

It's a matter of visceral fat (ie fat around yr liver, pancreas etc) + bad luck with genes dictating that you don't handle that very well + probably environmental factors. Sucks, but if you are like this, you can probably get rid of it by losing some weight.

On the other hand, you could be Type 1 or Type 1.5 or whatever instead, so it's good they're doing the antibody tests. You'll probably need to be a bit patient & maybe a bit pushy in getting the DX sorted, which also sucks, but on the other hand this is usually a pretty slow-moving condition and you have plenty of time for the sorting.

Anyway - good luck!

Yep maybe I am a straight forward type 2. But I don’t really carry weight around my belly which I read was another risk factor for type 2. Anyway I’m sure I could lose a couple of kgs and see if that makes any difference. I will try to be pushy as you said, getting the feeling answers might be hard to come by but I will try! Thanks for your message

 

[Becky22]

Hi Becky, I’m similar to you. I had my antibodies tested and came back inconclusive, over a year down the line I’m classed as type Unknown . Bmi 19 at diagnosis , was a keen runner. MODY will usually come from a parent (but I suppose it has to start with someone) this has been suggested to me but there is literally zero chance of getting testing for that. I hope your tests give you some answers, please let us know how you get on with that.

People may disagree but stress was the only thing for me that I feel can of possibly contributed to my diagnosis. Some fairly big traumas Left me unable to sleep, or function properly. I could pinpoint the moment in time when I felt my body giving up on me. Saying that others can experience similar and not get the betes so do genetics play a part at this point ?

I wish you all the best with this. Xx

Hi Emma, you do seem really similar to me! I’ve been searching the internet trying to find someone in a similar position. How old were you when they said you were diabetic if you don’t mind me asking? Also why is there zero chance of doing the genetic testing? Is it because the NHS won’t fund it or haven’t got the resources?

Work is probably my main stress, I work in a lab and several times a week I wake up in the middle of the night thinking have a made those dishes or did I do those checks. So maybe it’s a factor. Other colleagues have been ill with stress linked conditions as well, so it wouldn’t be just me. I wouldn’t say anything has tipped me over the edge though so maybe it’s been a gradual thing.

Thanks so much for your message xx

 

[Becky22]

@Becky22 hasnt had the results of her antibody tests yet so this is a general comment as we don’t know her type. I posted this link yesterday and I think it’s helpful:

https://www.technologynetworks.com/...tus-and-treatment-possibilities-beyond-353685

The process of Type 1 takes time. It starts before you have any clue it’s going on, and it can progress quite slowly. There’s then a final shove sometimes that pushes you over the line. This shove can be illness, pregnancy, stress, etc. People sometimes focus on one thing that caused it and it’s always a recent thing, but the process will have been going on for some time before that thing.

Thanks for the message and link, I have had a good read. Will be interesting to see what my anti bodies are as there were no ketones. As I don’t have any symptoms, the diabetes was very much an incidental finding so I could have had it quite a while. I’ll just have to be patient. Thanks again!

 

[EmmaL76]

Yes I agree with inka, many type 1’s will often get to a point of hospitalisation when there is no doubt then as markers are so high. There are some who’s diagnosis comes about in the early stages usually when testing for something else, this can leave you in a kind of grey area for a while.

Hi Emma, you do seem really similar to me! I’ve been searching the internet trying to find someone in a similar position. How old were you when they said you were diabetic if you don’t mind me asking? Also why is there zero chance of doing the genetic testing? Is it because the NHS won’t fund it or haven’t got the resources?

Work is probably my main stress, I work in a lab and several times a week I wake up in the middle of the night thinking have a made those dishes or did I do those checks. So maybe it’s a factor. Other colleagues have been ill with stress linked conditions as well, so it wouldn’t be just me. I wouldn’t say anything has tipped me over the edge though so maybe it’s been a gradual thing.

Thanks so much for your message xx

ahh your welcome Becky. I was 43, but have had issues with blood sugar in the past. It’s probably not fair to say zero chance of being tested for MODY. It sometimes depends where abouts in the country you are. The test is not routinely done and is very expensive I believe. If your sleep is effected then you definitely need to try and get your life/work balance under control. I know that’s a lot easier said than done.xx

 

[Leadinglights]

Not sleeping can be caused by a number of things connected with stress. I had a job which I loved but was always thinking about what needed to be done or going over things that had happened that day and how to do things better but somehow it was all consuming. Then just a couple of years before I retired we had a new manager who started to bully me from the moment he started and then I was going home at the end of the day as a wreck in tears and couldn't sleep because of that. He basically forced me to make the decision to retire, then along came Covid and the worry of my daughters who work on the front line in the NHS so everything just was going round and round in my head.
I feel much better now as I realised that nobody had the right to make me feel like that and I had to move on.

 

[Becky22]

Yes I agree with inka, many type 1’s will often get to a point of hospitalisation when there is no doubt then as markers are so high. There are some who’s diagnosis comes about in the early stages usually when testing for something else, this can leave you in a kind of grey area for a while.

ahh your welcome Becky. I was 43, but have had issues with blood sugar in the past. It’s probably not fair to say zero chance of being tested for MODY. It sometimes depends where abouts in the country you are. The test is not routinely done and is very expensive I believe. If your sleep is effected then you definitely need to try and get your life/work balance under control. I know that’s a lot easier said than done.xx

Perhaps I am an early type 1 then, I’ll just have to be patient. Ah you were super young as well. Do you think it’s impacted your life much? Or you just needed to make small changes? I’ve taken two days off work but I’ll go back in tomorrow. Will mainly make sure that I get a lunch break half way through the day. Sometimes when we have loads of patients we don’t eat so that’s going to have to stop, and also I can’t just quickly snack on a few biscuits now I guess. I find if I go to bed early I just think about things and don’t sleep and if I go to bed later I go straight to sleep but only get 5-6 hours . Thanks for your reply!