Type 1 or 2 test?

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nelly22

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Type 2
Hi I have been diagnosed with diabetes, I'm 55, slightly overweight but I've always had symptoms since I can remember.
I'm wondering is it possible that I've always carried this but it's never been active enough to be concerning enough to test for?

I was always a thirsty child & adult, & had what I know now since reading about diabetes, hypos, one was so bad I had to be driven home from work, I haven't had three of these between the ages of 37 & 42 a year or so apart. They will be on my GP record, at the time I thought I had some sort of weird reaction to something I'd eaten which sounds silly now because it wasn't so obvious because it only happened when I'd skipped meals.

I am booked in to see the diabetes nurse expect that she will say it's definitely types 2 but I'm wondering, is there a test that can distinguish between type 1 & 2? Thank you in advance
 
They can do tests that can help distinguish between them. C-Peptide and there is another one (GAD antibody?).

Undiagnosed diabetes would send blood sugar high and usually not low.

From your age the immediate assumption would be type 2 but you never know
 
Hi @nelly22 The two tests to look for Type 1 are the C Peptide test, which gives an indication of how much insulin you’re making, and the Type 1 antibodies test. The results of these two tests, along with consultant interpretation and consideration of your individual situation can give you an answer.

With some Type 2s, their blood sugar can go high and then drop too low hours later because their insulin response is mucked up. This can happen particularly after highish carb, higher glycaemic load meals.

The symptoms of Type 1 are the Four Ts - tired, thirsty, toilet (frequent urination), thinner (sudden, unexpected weight loss). Type 1 can develop at any age. It wouldn’t be something that took decades to develop. It’s caused by an as yet unknown environmental trigger, which starts an auto-immune attack on the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, killing them off and leading to uncontrolled high blood sugar, high ketones, and Type 1.
 
Whilst there are tests they can do to distinguish T2 from T1, a diabetes nurse at your GP isn’t going to order them. If there was suspicion that you’re T1 you’d need to be referred to the hospital to see if they want to order the tests.

Diabetes is high blood sugar not low, so feeling the symptoms of low blood sugar when skipping a meal isn’t a sign of diabetes. There is something called reactive hypoglycaemia but this would happen after eating a high carb meal not after skipping a meal.
 
Hi @nelly22 and welcome to the forum. As others have said, it is very unlikely that you being unwell in the past has been due to hypos as a result of diabetes. Hypo's are due to low blood glucose whereas diabetes causes high blood glucose. People with diabetes can get hypos, indeed it is real possibility for somebody with T1, but as a result of taking medication intended to bring blood glucose down, and overcompensating for some reason or other. That obviously cannot apply to you.

The chance that you have been misdiagnosed is always there but it will be very, very low and I would not be worrying about it as yet. My approach would be to get educated on the subject ofT2 diabetes and this site is a very good place to start. Check out the learning zone and read around the forum and you will get a good handle on the basics. If you do that then you will be in a better position to have a decent conversation with the nurse when that comes about.

Above all ask questions because you will no doubt be confused by the information storm ( we have all been there) and we can help clarify things.
 
nelly22 said:
Hi I have been diagnosed with diabetes, I'm 55, slightly overweight but I've always had symptoms since I can remember.
I'm wondering is it possible that I've always carried this but it's never been active enough to be concerning enough to test for?

I was always a thirsty child & adult, & had what I know now since reading about diabetes, hypos, one was so bad I had to be driven home from work, I haven't had three of these between the ages of 37 & 42 a year or so apart. They will be on my GP record, at the time I thought I had some sort of weird reaction to something I'd eaten which sounds silly now because it wasn't so obvious because it only happened when I'd skipped meals.

I am booked in to see the diabetes nurse expect that she will say it's definitely types 2 but I'm wondering, is there a test that can distinguish between type 1 & 2? Thank you in advance
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If you are skipping meals, your blood sugar won't go down as the metabolism will either release it from glycogen stores or, over a long period of time without food, start making it. The body keeps it topped up when it goes low and brings it down when it goes high (The 'high' bit being a problem for us T2s).

I agree with what the others have said.

Just go along with what the GP/Nurses say, they may suggest some medicine and will definitely suggest a lifestyle change. Some people can bring it under control just by losing weight. It all takes time, so be patient.
 
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harbottle said:
If you are skipping meals, your blood sugar won't go down as the metabolism will either release it from glycogen stores or, over a long period of time with food, start making it. The body keeps it topped up when it goes low and brings it down when it goes high (The 'high' bit being a problem for us T2s).

I agree with what the others have said.

Just go along with what the GP/Nurses say, they may suggest some medicine and will definitely suggest a lifestyle change. Some people can bring it under control just by losing weight. It all takes time, so be patien
Click to expand...
 
I was getting information from this site, not saying it's right but what I was experiencing was definitely hypoglycemic attacks,

"Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)​

Low blood sugar occurs when the sugar (glucose) level in your blood drops below what your body needs. Your blood sugar can drop quickly if you don't eat enough food or you skip meals. It can also happen if you take too much medicine (insulin or pills), exercise more than usual, or take certain medicines that lower blood sugar. Do not drink alcohol if you have problems noticing the early signs of low blood sugar."

Is this information incorrect ? Thank you
 
harbottle said:
If you are skipping meals, your blood sugar won't go down as the metabolism will either release it from glycogen stores or, over a long period of time with food, start making it. The body keeps it topped up when it goes low and brings it down when it goes high (The 'high' bit being a problem for us T2s).

I agree with what the others have said.

Just go along with what the GP/Nurses say, they may suggest some medicine and will definitely suggest a lifestyle change. Some people can bring it under control just by losing weight. It all takes time, so be patient.
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Yes if you are diabetic & suddenly your sugar levels drop for whatever reason, this can cause hypoglycemia. I am confused & I willing just let the nurse know when I see her, they might make some sense of it. I know that these wee hypoglycaemic attacks definitely ice no doubt. It was awful probably should have gone to hospital not sure why I didn't
 
nelly22 said:
Yes if you are diabetic & suddenly your sugar levels drop for whatever reason, this can cause hypoglycemia. I am confused & I willing just let the nurse know when I see her, they might make some sense of it. I know that these wee hypoglycaemic attacks definitely ice no doubt. It was awful probably should have gone to hospital not sure why I didn't
Click to expand...

It's not 'whatever reason'.

Hypos happen because T1s can't just 'shut off' the insulin they they have injected when blood sugar gets too low (Which is what happens normally). Instead it keeps acting, hence why they have to take glucose tablets to bring it back up again. Certain T2 medications can also cause it - I know someone who took too many tablets by accident (Glic) and had to eat jelly babies to stop levels from dropping, as this medicine makes the pancreas produce more insulin.
 
nelly22 said:
I was getting information from this site, not saying it's right but what I was experiencing was definitely hypoglycemic attacks,

"Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)​

Low blood sugar occurs when the sugar (glucose) level in your blood drops below what your body needs. Your blood sugar can drop quickly if you don't eat enough food or you skip meals. It can also happen if you take too much medicine (insulin or pills), exercise more than usual, or take certain medicines that lower blood sugar. Do not drink alcohol if you have problems noticing the early signs of low blood sugar."

Is this information incorrect ? Thank you
Click to expand...

This info is for people who have to use insulin (If it's from the NHS website).

It's possible for non-diabetics to have low blood sugar for brief periods of time (Exercise, alcohol, etc) but it always returns to normal and the effects are pretty mild. (My own went below 4 when I climbed up mount vesuvius last year, and also when I walk back from the pub! I just sit down for around 10 minutes and it goes back to normal - not helped by Metformin, which has to used carefully with alcohol.)

Hypos in T1 diabetics can be life threatening.

I'd worry more about high blood sugar than low, which is what T2 is! Hyperglycemia can also make you feel horrible.
 
nelly22 said:
what I was experiencing was definitely hypoglycemic attacks,
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The only way you can know that is if you tested your blood sugar with a glucose meter at the time. You won’t have dangerous hypos unless on certain medications
 
harbottle said:
It's not 'whatever reason'.

Hypos happen because T1s can't just 'shut off' the insulin they they have injected when blood sugar gets too low (Which is what happens normally). Instead it keeps acting, hence why they have to take glucose tablets to bring it back up again. Certain T2 medications can also cause it - I know someone who took too many tablets by accident (Glic) and had to eat jelly babies to stop levels from dropping, as this medicine makes the pancreas produce more insulin.
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I'm not meaning to sound flippant please don't misunderstand me. This is what I'm referring to, it says that it applies to T1 & T2.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)​

Low blood sugar occurs when the sugar (glucose) level in your blood drops below what your body needs. Your blood sugar can drop quickly if you don't eat enough food or you skip meals. It can also happen if you take too much medicine (insulin or pills), exercise more than usual, or take certain medicines that lower blood sugar. Do not drink alcohol if you have problems noticing the early signs of low blood sugar.
 
nelly22 said:
I'm not meaning to sound flippant please don't misunderstand me. This is what I'm referring to, it says that it applies to T1 & T2.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)​

Low blood sugar occurs when the sugar (glucose) level in your blood drops below what your body needs. Your blood sugar can drop quickly if you don't eat enough food or you skip meals. It can also happen if you take too much medicine (insulin or pills), exercise more than usual, or take certain medicines that lower blood sugar. Do not drink alcohol if you have problems noticing the early signs of low blood sugar.
Click to expand...

Are you in any medication for your high blood sugar?
 
nelly22 said:
I'm not meaning to sound flippant please don't misunderstand me. This is what I'm referring to, it says that it applies to T1 & T2.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)​

Low blood sugar occurs when the sugar (glucose) level in your blood drops below what your body needs. Your blood sugar can drop quickly if you don't eat enough food or you skip meals. It can also happen if you take too much medicine (insulin or pills), exercise more than usual, or take certain medicines that lower blood sugar. Do not drink alcohol if you have problems noticing the early signs of low blood sugar.
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But don't forget that some people who are Type 2 take insulin or medication that will make the pancreas produce more insulin and if they don't eat enough usually carbs for the insulin to work on then they will have low blood glucose.
 
Lucyr said:
The only way you can know that is if you tested your blood sugar with a glucose meter at the time. You won’t have dangerous hypos unless on certain medications
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I did. It was really bad I think I should have gone to hospital but just at the time I wasn't around people who were supportive & I didn't know what was going on. I was sweating, shivering, went completely white, lips blue, talking gibberish, completely confused, couldn't stand up. Had tingling cold hands & feet, all of the key points I've read about. It lasted a few hours but reduced in intensity, I had a few more but not as bad as that one.

When I was in my teens I was fit & healthy, a size 10, I had gallstones for some crazy reason, I'd never been overweight & never dieted. I'd say that an attack from gallstones was similar to the hypo but more painful (with gallstones). All of the other factors were there, except I also felt like I was going to pass out.
 
nelly22 said:
This is what I'm referring to, it says that it applies to T1 & T2.
Click to expand...
It means when they are on certain medications. Eg I am classed as type 2 on insulin. If I take too much I can have a serious hypo.
 
Lucyr said:
It means when they are on certain medications. Eg I am classed as type 2 on insulin. If I take too much I can have a serious hypo.
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It says it can be either undereating or taking too much medication, says either. Seems to fit I will report back with what nurse says
 
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