Recently diagnosed LADA here

[Steven77]

Hello everyone,

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes around late 2019 at the age of 42 and prescribed Metformin to help which it did.
Fast forward to June 2021 and my health slowly started to get worse; mainly extreme weight loss.
After a doctors phone calls (due to pandemic could not see a doctor face to face and still can't) I had some blood tests and after a long wait found I now have Type 1 LADA, joy

The first local diabetes care team got my medication sorted NovaRapid (3 times a day) and Lantis (once a day) and the dietician was happy with my diet due to having changed my whole sugar intake and the like when I was diagnosed with Type 2.

But their help ended around October and was signed off to the care of my local doctors and hospital.

My weight is just about back to normal and my daily sugar levels are good with only a few hypo's happening since diagnosed.

The only problem I am having is the lack of information (insulin-to-carb ratio) or help given on starting carb counting, the dietician told me to get the Carb & Calorie Counter book but that's all.
My local hospital was due to ring me for my first over the phone appointment on November 25th but didn't happen so they rearranged it again for the phone due to the pandemic on February 24th.
I have no idea who it's with or a contact number bar a main cancellation number.

 

[Windy]

Hi @Steven77 welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about the problems you've had getting your diagnosis and the lack of phone appointment at the hospital.
You say you've had only a few hypos and have gained weight to a normal level. Excellent work there, despite the lack of recent support from the hospital. I know the NHS is absolutely snowed under due to winter pressures, funding issues and Covid 19, but that doesn't make it any easier for you. February 24th seems a long way off.
There's information on hypos here if you haven't found that page already.

I'm a type 2, so don't know about insulin to carb ratios, but hopefully some of the more knowledgable people on the forum will be able to help there.
Hopefully some of the T1s and T1.5s will be able to help. Have you got other questions in addition to insulin/carbs you'd like answering too?
Best wishes, Sarah

 

[Robin]

February is a long time to wait, @Steven77 . In the meantime, there are several resources that people have found helpful.
Two books: Think like a Pancreas by Gary Schneider, and Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Young people, and Adolescents. (people recommend this for any age, as it’s very well written and clearly explained)
An online carb counting course called BERTIE which is free of charge, and open to anyone to enrol on.

Welcome - BERTIE Online

www.bertieonline.org.uk

This will teach you the nuts and bolts of carb counting.

I was also misdiagnosed as Type 2, and it took months to get a proper diagnosis and insulin regime, and I ended up teaching myself most of it!

 

[Inka]

Hi @Steven77 🙂 Far too many people are misdiagnosed as Type 2. I’m glad you now have the correct diagnosis.

Carb counting is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Don’t let people over complicate it. There’s a basic guide here:

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-t...-and-diabetes/nuts-and-bolts-of-carb-counting

.

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @Steven77 from another late starter with T1 LADA. The LADA bit just means that our develops a bit more slowly than in youngsters. Apart from that they are treated in much the same way.

Sorry to hear that you have had the run around with a wring diagnosis as T2 to start with.
It is good that you have been started on two separate insulins as , once you have got to grips with carb counting you will then be able to adjust your doses for the bo,us (novorapid) which covers the carbs you eat, without impacting your basal insulin (Lantus). It all takes some time to settle down and find what works for you.

I recommend the Ragnar Hanas book that @Robin mentioned. I still dip into it now and then.

whatever questions arise, just ask. Nothing is considered silly on here.

 

[Steven77]

Thank you all for the kind welcome and all the help / information given.
Will have a look at that online carb counting course Bertie later today and try to get in touch with my local doctor's diabetic nurse to see if I can finally get some information on my insulation ratio to help with the evening meals injection.

 

[trophywench]

Assuming your basal insulin dose is as smack on correct as it can be, the way to start finding out your insulin to carb ratio at any time of day is when your pre meal BG is somewhere between 4 and 7 and when you haven't just done a heavy physical exercise session, is to eat a simple meal containing an exactly measured amount of carbs with a bolus of 1 unit to 10g of carb. Then test every half hour for 4 ish hours thereafter. Nothing too fatty - so no chips, cheese or anything else fried.

If your BG has not reduced back down the pre meal level, 1u to 10g is not enough so do it again with 1u to 8g. If too much, do it again with 1u to 12g. And so forth. It's by no means instant success guaranteed.

Have you as yet made sure your basal dose is as correct as it can be? If not it is essential you do that first otherwise you'll be barking up the wrong tree for far too long.