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Possible LADA

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Thyroid17

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1.5 LADA
Hi everyone !
I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes in 2011. I’m not really overweight (65kg) and also have an under active thyroid which was diagnosed in 2006. So imagine my surprise when at my annual review, my latest diabetic nurse says “ you’re the wrong shape to be T2“!
So I’m undergoing tests to confirm LADA. Started on insulin yesterday and blood sugars already in normal range. Are there any LADA people out there that can tell me what their experiences with diagnosis and if you are now under the hospital rather than GP?
thanks in advance
 
Welcome to the forum @Thyroid17

We have several LADA members like @Ljc @DaveB , plus others like @SB2015 who developed diabetes in later life but were classified as T1, or @Robin who was reclassified T1 after an initial T2 diagnosis.

Good to hear that the insulin has been working so effectively for you so far 🙂
 
Welcome to the forum,@Thyroid17 . I was initially diagnosed as Type 2, because of my age, 51, but 14 years ago there wasnt such a good understanding that people can develop Type 1 (or LADA, which is a slower onset of Type 1 often seen in adults) later in life, so well done to your nurse for being on the ball. Fortunately my GP was on the ball enough to realise I wasn’t a typical Type 2,(I was losing a couple of pounds a week and getting underweight, whilst eating massively!) and she referred me to the hospital, but not with any urgency! However, I eventually got sorted out, and was seen by the hospital for a couple of years until they decided I could be discharged back to my GPs care. That did have its limitations, though, in terms of what the GP nurse could prescribe, and I eventually asked for a referral back to the hospital so I could get a Libre continuing glucose monitor, which can’t be prescribed in a primary care setting. So at the moment I'm having telephone consultations every six months with the hospital, and getting my other checks like toe tickling etc done at my local surgery.
 
Welcome to the forum @Thyroid17 from another late starter. Having lost 1 1/2 stone in1 week my diagnosis was picked up quickly. I was 53 at diagnosis, which my letter describes as LADA but is treated as T1. Really pleased to hear that your nurse was so on the ball.

I have been managed by the hospital throughout and will certainly be with them as I am now on an insulin pump. I prefer that as they have experience of many more people to draw on, whereas for my GP I am th only T1 he has.

keep in touch and fire away with any questions you have.
 
Hi. Welcome to the forum. It’s so good to hear your nurse is on the ball, sadly many are not and keep on trying to bang us square holes ( late starter T1 s or LADA ) into round holes.

Please try not to panic about possibly having another type of diabetes and probably one that you have never heard of before. No type of diabetes is actually a worse one than any other type, it’s just how it’s managed is different .

It’s also good to hear you have already been started on insulin, as it’s now believed the sooner insulin therapy is started for those of us with LADA that it helps to preserve the remaining insulin producing cells in our pancreas (Beta cells) for longer.


What insulins are you on ?

Long story short .
I was dx T2 back in the 90s and for many yrs did well on T2 meds . I don’t think LADA had been discovered then.
2016 put on two types of insulin, a long acting one and rapid one (Novorapid) for meals it’s often called MDI here , multiple daily injections, it’s actually a very flexible regime, you don't have to eat if you don’t wish too. Where with the twice daily mixed insulin’s you do.

Earlier this year I decided to have the C-peptide test to determine which type I really had Their was another reason which I won’t go into here but the other reason was, I didn’t need as much insulin as many insulin dependent T2s do.

Whatever type you turn out to have you will get lots of advice and cyber support from people in here.
So ask all the questions you need to, we will do our best to help based on what has worked for us.
 
Hi and welcome from me too.

I was diagnosed just over 2 years ago at the age of 56. Initially assumed Type 2 due to age and poor diet (self confessed sugar addict.... but that is now history) After 6 weeks of very strict low carb diet and increasing oral Type 2 meds my HbA1c went up instead of down and I was started on MDI insulin regime. Tested positive for Type 1 a few months later after testing was sanctioned by consultant. Still under consultant/hospital diabetes clinic and would hope to remain so or at least be able to self refer back if my care is transferred back to GP. People developing Type 1 at a more mature age (rather than in childhood) often experience a slower onset. This can be a matter of weeks like me, or months or many years like yourself. The longer period of onset is usually catagorised as LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults) It is essentially still Type 1 and your treatment should be the same as a Type 1.

So pleased you eventually got a nurse who was switched on. Sadly they are still a bit thin on the ground and many LADA patients don't get properly diagnosed or appropriate treatment. It sounds like you are doing really well with your new insulin regime. I hope things continue to go smoothly for you.

Feel free to ask if there is anything you don't understand or need help with.
 
Thank you to all of you for your replies!! It’s reassuring to hear you are all experiencing good medical care after diagnosis. Since my first post i had my insulin increased to 14 units twice a day but experienced really bad headaches, any of you had this reaction? Insulin was lowered to 6 units twice a day and it’s gradually being increased, still have a very dull ache! My c-peptide test came back on the low end of normal and GP diagnosed me as type 2 again….. nurse disagrees and I’ve had a GAD antibody test which I’m waiting for the results.
Ive since found out that I’m at higher risk of ketoacidosis, this sounds very scary, any experience of this from members? Thanks in advance
 
@Thyroid17 what are your blood sugar levels like?
Headaches can be a symptom of highs or lows ... and possibly False lows.
False lows are when our body gets used to experiencing higher blood sugar levels so when we start to bring them down it panics and we experience symptoms like a hypo even though our levels are above 4 mmol/l ... they are just not what we are used to.
Over time, our bodies get used to the lower levels and the symptoms disappear.

As for ketoacidosis, this is a risk for all of us with Type 1 diabetes (sorry, I do not know about type 2 and don't want to speculate). Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is when we experience high blood sugars and high ketones. Our body does not have enough insulin to break down the sugar in our blood so will breakdown fat and protein from our bodies (fat and muscles). A product of this is ketones which can be toxic. Ketones smell like Acetone (the similarity in the names is not a coincidence) - like pear drops/nail varnish.
DKA is how some people are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes but if your blood sugar levels are not high, the risk is low.
I recommend checking out the symptoms of DKA so you are aware but don't panic.

We are all different. Personally, it would be most important to get the right treatment rather than worrying about the actual diagnosis. If you are getting insulin, this is the treatment you need for Type 1/LADA.
 
Thyroid17 said:
Thank you to all of you for your replies!! It’s reassuring to hear you are all experiencing good medical care after diagnosis. Since my first post i had my insulin increased to 14 units twice a day but experienced really bad headaches, any of you had this reaction? Insulin was lowered to 6 units twice a day and it’s gradually being increased, still have a very dull ache! My c-peptide test came back on the low end of normal and GP diagnosed me as type 2 again….. nurse disagrees and I’ve had a GAD antibody test which I’m waiting for the results.
Ive since found out that I’m at higher risk of ketoacidosis, this sounds very scary, any experience of this from members? Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Hi. I agree with your nurse, you see often if not usually folks with T2 are insulin resistant, which means the beta cells in the pancreas need to produce far more insulin than a non diabetic does .
As you are on the lower end of normal insulin production I now strongly suspect LADA which is a slow onset T1 , I believe it was discovered back in1993 but not sure and many GPs have not heard or come across it, it seems your nurse has .
 
helli said:
@Thyroid17 what are your blood sugar levels like?
Headaches can be a symptom of highs or lows ... and possibly False lows.
False lows are when our body gets used to experiencing higher blood sugar levels so when we start to bring them down it panics and we experience symptoms like a hypo even though our levels are above 4 mmol/l ... they are just not what we are used to.
Over time, our bodies get used to the lower levels and the symptoms disappear.

As for ketoacidosis, this is a risk for all of us with Type 1 diabetes (sorry, I do not know about type 2 and don't want to speculate). Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is when we experience high blood sugars and high ketones. Our body does not have enough insulin to break down the sugar in our blood so will breakdown fat and protein from our bodies (fat and muscles). A product of this is ketones which can be toxic. Ketones smell like Acetone (the similarity in the names is not a coincidence) - like pear drops/nail varnish.
DKA is how some people are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes but if your blood sugar levels are not high, the risk is low.
I recommend checking out the symptoms of DKA so you are aware but don't panic.

We are all different. Personally, it would be most important to get the right treatment rather than worrying about the actual diagnosis. If you are getting insulin, this is the treatment you need for Type 1/LADA.
Click to expand...
helli said:
@Thyroid17 what are your blood sugar levels like?
Headaches can be a symptom of highs or lows ... and possibly False lows.
False lows are when our body gets used to experiencing higher blood sugar levels so when we start to bring them down it panics and we experience symptoms like a hypo even though our levels are above 4 mmol/l ... they are just not what we are used to.
Over time, our bodies get used to the lower levels and the symptoms disappear.

As for ketoacidosis, this is a risk for all of us with Type 1 diabetes (sorry, I do not know about type 2 and don't want to speculate). Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is when we experience high blood sugars and high ketones. Our body does not have enough insulin to break down the sugar in our blood so will breakdown fat and protein from our bodies (fat and muscles). A product of this is ketones which can be toxic. Ketones smell like Acetone (the similarity in the names is not a coincidence) - like pear drops/nail varnish.
DKA is how some people are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes but if your blood sugar levels are not high, the risk is low.
I recommend checking out the symptoms of DKA so you are aware but don't panic.

We are all different. Personally, it would be most important to get the right treatment rather than worrying about the actual diagnosis. If you are getting insulin, this is the treatment you need for Type 1/LADA.
Click to expand...
Hi, thanks for the info. After starting on insulin my blood sugars rapidly dropped into 6-8 mmol/l range that my nurse had recommended but my Hba1c was previously 112, so been high for a while. Since they have reduced the insulin my blood sugars have crept back up with my highest reading of 15.5mmol/l but now it’s been increased again it’s dropped back down. To be honest, apart from the headache, I do feel much better since starting the insulin and I’m happy to take it regardless of whether I’m type 2 or LADA.
 
Ljc said:
Hi. I agree with your nurse, you see often if not usually folks with T2 are insulin resistant, which means the beta cells in the pancreas need to produce far more insulin than a non diabetic does .
As you are on the lower end of normal insulin production I now strongly suspect LADA which is a slow onset T1 , I believe it was discovered back in1993 but not sure and many GPs have not heard or come across it, it seems your nurse has .
Click to expand...
I have to say she’s been brilliant, phoning me twice a week and conferring with diabetic specialist when needed. I feel I may have to put her on my Christmas card list
 
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What insulin’s are you on
 
I’ve been put onto Novomix 30. Started on 8 units twice a day and progressed to 14 units, then dropped down to 6units and I’ve progressed back up to 10 units twice a day from today. What sort of dosage is normal or does everyone need different amounts?
 
Ljc said:
What insulin’s are you on
Click to expand...

Thyroid17​

I’ve been put onto Novomix 30. Started on 8 units twice a day and progressed to 14 units, then dropped down to 6units and I’ve progressed back up to 10 units twice a day from today. What sort of dosage is normal or does everyone need different amounts?
 
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Thyroid17 said:
What sort of dosage is normal or does everyone need different amounts?
Click to expand...
Insulin dosage is very personal.
It can be affected by things like how much you weigh, what you eat, how much exercise you do, how stressed are your days and more.

For people with Type 1 diabetes, mixed insulin like NovoMix is not very common. A fixed dose assumes you eat the same every day, exercise the same every day, have the same amount of stress every day, ...

More common is a basal/bolus insulin regime. This requires more injections - one every time we eat and one or two extra each day. But this gives us much more flexibility. For example, on a very active day (I do a lot of exercise), my total insulin dose could be half of that on a day of stressful meetings, hayfever and no time for exercise.
 
In my non medical opinion, you may well be better off with a totally different insulin regime than mixed insulin. With mixed insulin it is as @helli above has explained.
It is less injections per day

I am on a Basal (background insulin ) which is .given once or twice daily , it deals with our levels between meals.
The a bolus insulin ( mealtime one also called Rapid ) for meals . I learned how to adjust this to the amount of carbs I am going to eat , I can also safely miss meals which you can’t on mixed insulin.

I am am also wondering if you may be reacting to perhaps one of preservatives or chemicals etc in your insulin. It’s sort of brewed i suppose in Big vats.
So it would be worth discussing a change of brands even if you wish to stay on mixed insulin.
 
Ljc said:
In my non medical opinion, you may well be better off with a totally different insulin regime than mixed insulin. With mixed insulin it is as @helli above has explained.
It is less injections per day

I am on a Basal (background insulin ) which is .given once or twice daily , it deals with our levels between meals.
The a bolus insulin ( mealtime one also called Rapid ) for meals . I learned how to adjust this to the amount of carbs I am going to eat , I can also safely miss meals which you can’t on mixed insulin.

I am am also wondering if you may be reacting to perhaps one of preservatives or chemicals etc in your insulin. It’s sort of brewed i suppose in Big vats.
So it would be worth discussing a change of brands even if you wish to stay on mixed insulin.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info, it seems to me that they have put me on this initially whilst waiting for diagnosis. I’m told if I do have LADA then I will be under a specialist at the hospital rather than my GP surger. Looks like I will be spending the next few days doing lots more research
 
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Beware where you research . Dr google is not good .
In my non medical opinion once we go fully onto insulin, we should be treated as T1 ,, so I advise checking ou T1 info and what better place than to start here . Firstly register as T1 on the learning zone at the top of each page
And on this thread
forum.diabetes.org.uk

Useful links for people new to diabetes

These links provide useful information, particularly to those newly-diagnosed. You can also browse the Recommended Books and Links sections for further information :) Contents: Type 1 Section Insulin Pumps Section Type 2 Section General Help and Information Section Complications and screening...
forum.diabetes.org.uk forum.diabetes.org.uk
 
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