Hi..I’m new on here, finally after 6weeks my results come back and I am positive for LADA diabetes, (my brother has been type 1 since age of 12 so not completely new to me) I am 35, started tonight tracking my sugar levels until my referral to the diabetic drs makes contact of next steps over the next few weeks! Xx
-
Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Newly diagnosed with LADA diabetes
- Thread starter LisaC42
- Start date
- Status
Welcome to the club. Feel free to ask any questions.
Cheekily, can I ask one?
Just out of interest, why is the diagnosis LADA rather than Type 1?
What is the difference?
I was diagnosed as Type 1 at a similar age. I had a relatively long honeymoon (my insulin needs slowly rise until they stabilised after 8 years). But it wasn’t described as LADA.
As I say, just curious to know if it would have been called LADA now or whether there is any other difference.
Cheekily, can I ask one?
Just out of interest, why is the diagnosis LADA rather than Type 1?
What is the difference?
I was diagnosed as Type 1 at a similar age. I had a relatively long honeymoon (my insulin needs slowly rise until they stabilised after 8 years). But it wasn’t described as LADA.
As I say, just curious to know if it would have been called LADA now or whether there is any other difference.
Good morning
It was only confirmed Monday, had my appointment with a diabetic nurse last night where she gave me my sugar monitor. I’m not on insulin as of yet but the nurse said once she has been in contact with the Drs I will hear back.
Before dinner last night they was 7.3 2hrs later 12.5 & this morning I’ve woke up 8.4. I just need to look at my carb intake and gain some new knowledge on my diet! The reason I got tested for LADA was because they thought I was type 2 but for my age, weight and height and it being in my family they run more tests. I’m just completely exhausted, constantly on the toilet & thirsty all the time! At least I now know why!
Thank you for your reply ☺️
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
LADA is just a slow-onset Type 1 (and more common than most people think). Your story is very familiar - assumed to be Type 2 and eventually found to be Type 1/LADA. I can think of two people just very recently who were re-diagnosed like you. So you’re not alone 🙂
The blood sugar results you posted are very usual for your situation. Often the body can eventually get the blood sugar down a bit, but that ability is failing. Early introduction of insulin can often help as it relieves the pressure on the remaining islet cells and preserves them for longer. As with ‘normal’ Type 1, the tool we need is insulin. Obviously we should all eat a healthy diet, diabetic or not, but there’s no need to restrict carbs with Type 1/LADA. Once you get a regime in place, you’ll be able to eat pretty much normally 🙂
Yes, the exhaustion, thirst and constant toilet visits sound very familiar! It’s relentless. Once you’re on insulin, that will all resolve and you’ll feel an awful lot better.
The blood sugar results you posted are very usual for your situation. Often the body can eventually get the blood sugar down a bit, but that ability is failing. Early introduction of insulin can often help as it relieves the pressure on the remaining islet cells and preserves them for longer. As with ‘normal’ Type 1, the tool we need is insulin. Obviously we should all eat a healthy diet, diabetic or not, but there’s no need to restrict carbs with Type 1/LADA. Once you get a regime in place, you’ll be able to eat pretty much normally 🙂
Yes, the exhaustion, thirst and constant toilet visits sound very familiar! It’s relentless. Once you’re on insulin, that will all resolve and you’ll feel an awful lot better.
Thank you so much for this, it’s very helpful to know ☺️
Once you start taking insulin you should begin to feel better quite quickly.
Surprised they are making you wait a few weeks to be honest but on the positive side your blood glucose figures don't seem worryingly high. Looks like you went to your GP quite soon after feeling rubbish.
Being a typical bloke, I waited 4 years before going and my blood reading was at 35 or thereabouts when I was diagnosed last September. After years of feeling constantly ill, once I started taking insulin I began to feel noticeably better within about a week. I developed neuropathy at the same time but that's another (and ongoing) story.
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome to the forum @LisaC42 , from another late starter.
I label my profile as T1, although I was diagnosed as LADA. It makes no difference to me since as @Inka says this is just a slower onset of T1 in adults, and one that starts later. it is common for use to be misdiagnosed, as the destruction of the beat cells is slower. It is often some sort of illness that will normally raise glucose levels and so increase the need for insulin. At this point the remaining beta cells go on strike and just can’t cope with what they are asked to do. It is not the illness at that time that ceases the Diabetes , it it does trigger more severe symptoms and in some cases lead to Diabetic Keto Acidosis (DKA)
life become a lot easier once you get the correct diagnosis but there is still a lot to take in at the start. I found this forum a great help in so many ways. Whatever questions you have, just ask. Nothing is considered silly on here.
I label my profile as T1, although I was diagnosed as LADA. It makes no difference to me since as @Inka says this is just a slower onset of T1 in adults, and one that starts later. it is common for use to be misdiagnosed, as the destruction of the beat cells is slower. It is often some sort of illness that will normally raise glucose levels and so increase the need for insulin. At this point the remaining beta cells go on strike and just can’t cope with what they are asked to do. It is not the illness at that time that ceases the Diabetes , it it does trigger more severe symptoms and in some cases lead to Diabetic Keto Acidosis (DKA)
life become a lot easier once you get the correct diagnosis but there is still a lot to take in at the start. I found this forum a great help in so many ways. Whatever questions you have, just ask. Nothing is considered silly on here.
Hi..the nurse did say they have caught it early on. I went after being really poorly with covid and just not having any energy at all. Put it down to covid but I just was not myself so they did my bloods which sugars were high, said it was type 2 but wanted me to have the lada blood test which took 6 weeks to come back. I am hoping I get my energy levels back because I’m into my fitness and not been able to workout fully since December!
Thank you so much for your message. I felt very overwhelmed yesterday after my appointment with the diabetic nurse, but I know in time it will become part of normal life. Seeing my brother with it for near on 20years, I know I’ll be all good. It’s just making small changes to the way I do things
Hi..I am trying to get my head around this myself at the moment but Inka has explained it better then I could above. The nurse said to me it’s a late onset of type 1 in adults. I Google most things and there are explanations about it on there. My mum has dealt with my brother having it for 20years, when she read up about LADA she found it confusing. When I see the specialist I guess I’ll find out more xx
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
It’s the speed of onset @helli LADA being slow-onset. I had a long discussion with my consultant about it once. It’s not a term she uses really, and the use seems to vary between areas of the U.K. or even between different consultants. Lots of people are wrongly labelled ‘LADA’ simply because they got Type 1 as adults. But it’s the slower onset that’s officially the defining feature, I believe.
TBF, the OP just sounds like Type 1 to me, but I’m not a medical person.
@LisaC42 The ‘L’ of LADA is for Latent not Late. It’s Latent Auto-immune Diabetes in Adults But contrary to popular belief, many many people are diagnosed as Type 1 as adults. I think LADA isn’t a particularly useful term in general but that’s just my opinion.
TBF, the OP just sounds like Type 1 to me, but I’m not a medical person.
@LisaC42 The ‘L’ of LADA is for Latent not Late. It’s Latent Auto-immune Diabetes in Adults But contrary to popular belief, many many people are diagnosed as Type 1 as adults. I think LADA isn’t a particularly useful term in general but that’s just my opinion.
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi @LisaC42
I wouldn’t worry too much about whether you have LADA or T1.
Whichever it is the treatment will be the same. You will gradually work out what insulin you need for the carbs you eat. This will change over time, and as you say eventually it will become just part of your new normal life.
Focus on the management rather than the origin of it.
Plenty of help available on here.
I wouldn’t worry too much about whether you have LADA or T1.
Whichever it is the treatment will be the same. You will gradually work out what insulin you need for the carbs you eat. This will change over time, and as you say eventually it will become just part of your new normal life.
Focus on the management rather than the origin of it.
Plenty of help available on here.
To be honest, I don't differentiate between the two.
They are both Type 1 to me and are treated in the same way.
I suppose it's interesting to know the difference between how they develop but the problem itself once it manifests itself is the same. It's too much effort to explain to outsiders what LADA is but they typically understand Type 1 so that's easier.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Very often LADA can behave just like Type 2 diabetes and can be controlled using T2 drugs but if the person has low carbed and done more exercise to no avail, once insulin is recommended, esp if the person has never been overweight and wasn't first diagnosed when they were already elderly - get that c-peptide tested.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @LisaC42
Sorry you’ve had to join our club, but happy that you’ve found us.
Hope the shock of your diagnosis passes quickly. And ask away with any questions you have - nothing quite like the ‘hive mind’ of the forum to get a bunch of different ideas for whatever it is.
If you’d like a little background reading, these two books are often recommended by members here:
Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas. Don't be misled by the title - this book is relevant to people of all ages!
Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner - A practical guide to managing diabetes with insulin
Sorry you’ve had to join our club, but happy that you’ve found us.
Hope the shock of your diagnosis passes quickly. And ask away with any questions you have - nothing quite like the ‘hive mind’ of the forum to get a bunch of different ideas for whatever it is.
If you’d like a little background reading, these two books are often recommended by members here:
Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas. Don't be misled by the title - this book is relevant to people of all ages!
Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner - A practical guide to managing diabetes with insulin
- Status