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New Diabetic (LADA)

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.

*Pegasus*

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1.5 LADA
I’ve been reading the forums for a while, but didn’t know what type of diabetic I was. I’ve just been given my diagnosis in the last few days, so I thought it was time to register and say “Hi”.
It’s been a rapid journey for me and something that I’m still coming to terms with, but each day it becomes a little easier.
I went from pre diabetic to insulin dependent in just under four months!
This is my story.

I had not been feeling myself for a while, and so my GP ordered some blood tests for me. The results came back in early March and apparently showed me as pre diabetic. My A1c was 46.4 and my HbA1c was 6.4%. I was told I needed to cut down my sugar and carb intake, otherwise I would end up having type 2 diabetes.
I was given some leaflets and asked to phone and attend a support group. Then due to the Covid-19 lockdown this of course never happened.
I continued to feel unwell, and had started to feel thirsty all the time. I was also waking up virtually every hour during the night to either have a “wee” or drink more water as my mouth was so dry, or invariably do both!
I continued like that for a few weeks, and found the weight was dropping off me so decided to call my GP for advice. I was asked to do another blood test and drove to the hospital myself, as I couldn’t get a appointment for another five days. A few days later the doctor phoned and asked me to go and see her immediately, as I live close by it wasn’t a problem.
My blood test had shown A1c 123.0 and HbA1c 13.4%! She took my blood there and then but her meter just read “HI”, She also took my keytones which were normal. She made a couple of phone calls and gave me a letter to take to the hospital emergency floor. I was in total shock. I was told to go straight to the hospital, to take a overnight bag, not to eat anything and not to drive myself.
I was admitted to hospital with a blood glucose level of 43 and all I could think is what’s the problem? I was pre-diabetic at 46.4, and it’s now lower! Obviously I knew nothing about diabetes before, so was rather ignorant.
I had a double cannula in each hand and was on two bags of saline, one bag of potassium, and a insulin syringe driver. Apparently I was severely dehydrated despite drinking eight to ten pints of water a day!
I was in hospital for two days before being discharged, along with two meters, Metformin, Lantus and Novorapid!
Some aspects were good, others less so. But I am nevertheless grateful for the actions of my GP and the NHS in saving my life.
Although I was initially labelled as type 2 by my GP I was told last week I have LADA.
When I was in hospital, the consultant said I had symptoms of Both type 1 and type 2.

I’ve just been approved to have Libre Freestyle and it should be arriving on Monday, so I’m pleased I will be able to give my fingers a break. My A1c has dropped to 75 which is obviously good news.
 
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Welcome @*Pegasus* and thank you for telling your diagnosis story - that was very interesting. 43 is a very high blood sugar - no wonder you were so dehydrated!

Yes, diabetes and using insulin takes a while to get used to. It’s a big lifestyle change. It’s still early days for you but it sounds like you’re doing well.
 
Welcome to the forum @*Pegasus*. Quite a story. We have a few people with a LADA diagnosis, and I am sure some of them will be along to swap experiences before long.
 
Welcome to the forum @*Pegasus*

You have followed a common pattern of misdiagnosis, but I am pleased that you now have a correct one and appropriate treatment.

I know once I was on insulin I felt so much better. I hope that things settle down for you. Do fire away with any questions that you have. Nothing is considered silly on here. Just happy to support in any way possible.
 
@Inka, @Docb, @SB2015, thank you all. I was recommended this site by both my GP and the nurses in the hospital. Reading the information on this site has been a great source of knowledge and comfort for me. Whilst I was in hospital for the two nights and three days, there was little else to do but read. It was great to gain knowledge, but equally wonderful to realise that I was not alone with my diagnosis.
 
Hi @*Pegasus*

Another thought ...
I was diagnosed at the age of 53, but found the book Type1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young Adults by Ragnar Hanas very useful. Ignore the age reference. The information included is clearly explained, it is well indexed for quick reference and also regularly updated with the latest tech, which is changing so quickly now.

Keep the questions coming.
 
hi @SB2015,
How weird is that. I too am 53. I will certainly take a look at that book. I feel like I’m a sponge at the moment, trying to get as much information as as I can. It’s thanks to this site and the information on it, that I knew about Freestyle Libre. I was then able to ask for it at my first “Virtual” appointment with my endocrinologist. Fortunately he agreed that I met the guidelines and so I should hopefully have it tomorrow. 🙂
 
Like you I found about the Libre on here, and my DSN knew nothing of it at the time. Likewise pre-blousing for meals. A wealth of knowledge readily shared on here.
 
I’ve just been approved to have Libre Freestyle and it should be arriving on Monday, so I’m pleased I will be able to give my fingers a break.
Great news that you will have the Libre soon.
However, it does not mean the end to finger pricks. Th Libre USB’s not as accurate as finger pricks especially when your Bag is high or low.
I always check my Libre readings in the morning and at night (when my BG is least likely to be changing) as I find it drifts sometimes during its life.
I also always check when my BG is high or low before making a correction.

Your diagnosis has been traumatic but the good news is you now know the reason and should be able to see some normality (if things can be normal during a pandemic), soon.
 
I’ve been reading the forums for a while, but didn’t know what type of diabetic I was. I’ve just been given my diagnosis in the last few days, so I thought it was time to register and say “Hi”.
It’s been a rapid journey for me and something that I’m still coming to terms with, but each day it becomes a little easier.
I went from pre diabetic to insulin dependent in just under four months!
This is my story.

I had not been feeling myself for a while, and so my GP ordered some blood tests for me. The results came back in early March and apparently showed me as pre diabetic. My A1c was 46.4 and my HbA1c was 6.4%. I was told I needed to cut down my sugar and carb intake, otherwise I would end up having type 2 diabetes.
I was given some leaflets and asked to phone and attend a support group. Then due to the Covid-19 lockdown this of course never happened.
I continued to feel unwell, and had started to feel thirsty all the time. I was also waking up virtually every hour during the night to either have a “wee” or drink more water as my mouth was so dry, or invariably do both!
I continued like that for a few weeks, and found the weight was dropping off me so decided to call my GP for advice. I was asked to do another blood test and drove to the hospital myself, as I couldn’t get a appointment for another five days. A few days later the doctor phoned and asked me to go and see her immediately, as I live close by it wasn’t a problem.
My blood test had shown A1c 123.0 and HbA1c 13.4%! She took my blood there and then but her meter just read “HI”, She also took my keytones which were normal. She made a couple of phone calls and gave me a letter to take to the hospital emergency floor. I was in total shock. I was told to go straight to the hospital, to take a overnight bag, not to eat anything and not to drive myself.
I was admitted to hospital with a blood glucose level of 43 and all I could think is what’s the problem? I was pre-diabetic at 46.4, and it’s now lower! Obviously I knew nothing about diabetes before, so was rather ignorant.
I had a double cannula in each hand and was on two bags of saline, one bag of potassium, and a insulin syringe driver. Apparently I was severely dehydrated despite drinking eight to ten pints of water a day!
I was in hospital for two days before being discharged, along with two meters, Metformin, Lantus and Novorapid!
Some aspects were good, others less so. But I am nevertheless grateful for the actions of my GP and the NHS in saving my life.
Although I was initially labelled as type 2 by my GP I was told last week I have LADA.
When I was in hospital, the consultant said I had symptoms of Both type 1 and type 2.

I’ve just been approved to have Libre Freestyle and it should be arriving on Monday, so I’m pleased I will be able to give my fingers a break. My A1c has dropped to 75 which is obviously good news.
Gold star for your GP in reacting so promptly the moment she got your 2nd blood results
 
Welcome to the forum @*Pegasus*

Sorry to hear you've had such a rough time of things.

Hope the insulin continues to bring down your BGs gently and smoothly.

LADA is treated pretty much identically to T1 once you are on insulin, so you may find Ragnar Hanas's book a useful overview written very clearly. And don't worry about the title - it's just as helpful however old you are!
Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People

Another well regarded book is 'Think Like a Pancreas' by Gary Scheiner.
 
Hello @helli @Felinia @SB2015 and @everydayupsanddowns
Thank you for you messages of support.
Yes I am lucky my GP was on the ball, she has been very supportive since my discharge from hospital.
I was discharged reading 26 and sent home on fixed doses of Lantus 14 units 8am, and Novorapid 4 units 8am 12pm and 6pm. Needless to say that was totally inadequate. My GP phoned me every other day and raised me to 26 units of Lantus and 14 of Novorapid before meals. The hospital sent me home at 5:30pm on the Friday night with insulin from the pharmacy but no needles. Apparently it’s not hospital policy to give needles! Fortunately the nurse that was doing my discharge paperwork had the sense to send someone to the ward to get me needles until I could get get my prescription.
I just received my copy of my first follow up phone consultation. My HbAc1 on admission was 128.4 and last week had dropped to 71.6
My consultant was very pleased with me, and I can’t believe how much better I feel in myself.🙂
My Freestyle kit arrived by courier today, and it’s currently warming up. It was totally painless to apply, but blood came out of the hole in the middle. Hopefully that won’t be an issue.
Thanks again for all the messages of support.
🙂
 
Should of added I was changed to cal counting last week, and adjusting my insulin accordingly. Wow, so much better. I now don’t have hypos after not eating enough carbs for fixed dose.
 
Hi and welcome from me too.

Libre sensors which bleed on insertion are often more accurate. Hopefully, your first one will be a good one. They are an amazing bit of kit!

Great that you are carb counting already and getting to grips with matching your insulin.

The hospital start you on conservative doses of insulin to bring your levels down slowly because sudden change from high levels straight to normal range can cause damage to blood vessels and nerves, particularly the eyes as well as make you feel unwell, so it is better to slowly adjust the insulin doses upwards as the BG levels come down.
 
Hi @rebrascora
That’s reassuring to hear, and makes me feel happier.
Just did my first scan and it was only 0.2 different to my meter. So it looks like the blood was a good sign after all. 🙂
You are right about the slow reduction, my first night in hospital whilst I was on the insulin syringe driver was horrible. I woke at 2am with such severe pain in my legs. It felt like they were being crushed in a vice. I never want to experience pain like that again, I was wet through with sweat because of the pain. I wanted to scream out, but the whole ward was asleep. :(
 
“Bleeders are readers” is what some Libre users say :D
 
You sound like you are getting on top of things. I found an app which records and counts the cals, carbs, fats, sugars, protein, fibre and salt for every single food item and keeps a running total per meal, per day and per week. I'm Type 2 so not on such a strict regime as you, but I found it made it so much easier to keep track of everything.
 
I hope that you get as much out of using the Libre as I did.
I too have had some superb bleeders, but as others have said it certainly didn’t impair the accuracy.

I have had a few sensors where they read continuously below my BG, and others above.
However in general, as they are reading the interstitial glucose level there is a bit of a time lag. I think of it as about a 10 min time lag, so apply a fudge factor using the reading from the Libre along with the arrow to get an idea of my BG. Often that is enough but if I am in doubt I will then do a fingerprick, especially if it is changing quickly and heading low, and more importantly if I am about to drive. With all the info it gives it just helps me be much more aware of changes and I have a far better time in range percentage than I did before.
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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