Type 2 now type 1

[Clarelryxx]

Hi I have been I type 2 diabetes for 3 years starting with fiat control and up until last week metformin 4tablets I started on 2 metformin per day until 2years ago when I lost weight and my sugars went high after my hba1c levels rise so medication was increased to 4 metformin per day I had my hbac1 test 2weeks ago and they’re was quite a jump from 56 to 80 so I was called in to see my diabetic nurse I weighed in at 59 kg so not a typical type 2 definitely not overweight and exercising every day and generally eating quite healthy before my nurse put me on any more medication I had a blood test to check my insulin reserve level s and antibodies results came in and was shocked to be told I must start insulin immediately as I had 1+ketone s in my urine so now I’m on the insulin rollercoaster like my moods and sugar levels up and down I’m just looking for any advice on snack s I can have and how to cope with my body becoming used to sugar levels coming down had a weird experience felt like I was having a hypo but level s were 9.7 which is low for me any advice would be greatly appreciated to help me thanks

 

[Bruce Stephens]

any advice on snack s I can have and how to cope with my body becoming used to sugar levels coming down had a weird experience felt like I was having a hypo but level s were 9.7 which is low for me any advice would be greatly appreciated to help me thanks

For snacks I'm sure someone else will have good suggestions, but nuts are fairly low-carb. For getting used to normal BG levels I'm afraid I think it'll just take time.

I guess it's possible you aren't adjusting your insulin levels yet, but if and when you do the advice is to reduce the lows first, which also helps a lot with the highs. (And if you haven't been offered Libre (or Dexcom or similar) definitely ask. Then you can see the graphs showing lows and highs (including overnight). It can make life so much easier than just test strips.)

 

[Clarelryxx]

Thanks for reply I’m only on day 6 so just feeling a little scared of the wobbles I have been eating nuts but wondering if there was anything other than nuts as I’m becoming as nutty as them

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Thanks for reply I’m only on day 6 so just feeling a little scared of the wobbles I have been eating nuts but wondering if there was anything other than nuts as I’m becoming as nutty as them

There are sugar free sweets (I like sugar free polo mints, for example), but often they use a sweetener (Sorbitol) that's also used in laxatives, so they're not really for munching. (One reason for liking polo mints, since I'm only going to eat one or two.)

It's easy to buy 100% cocoa butter chocolate nowadays, so if you like that that's sugar free. (Not necessarily cheap, of course.) There are lots of things that are lowish carbohydrate (and I'm sure people will be along to suggest some things). For savoury things, olives, cheese, tomatoes. Quite likely pickled things (I used to quite like pickled onions, but I haven't checked how much carbohydrate they have; I can't imagine eating them outside a meal, either).

Eventually we can eat anything (we have insulin if necessary), but of course that comes with practice.

 

[trophywench]

Well if 9.7 is low for you that is of itself, absolute proof that your blood glucose has been far too high for quite some time and you would not normally expect to have hypo symptoms until you were at least 5.0 at the highest - so what you had is officially called a false hypo. As such I assure you there's no harm in treating the symptoms - but absolutely not OVER treating them. eg a hot drink with a BIT of sugar

Gradually, the doses of insulin will be adjusted to get your overall BG down to a more normal level (that's somewhere between 4 and 7) most of the time. This will be achieved by two different insulins every day. One is a longer acting insulin which keeps your background level pretty even on an ongoing basis, accompanied by a faster acting one you will use before meals to take care of the food you are going to eat.

 

[Clarelryxx]

Thank you for the advice anything is appreciated I’m only day 6 insulin and nurse treating gradually till my hospital appointment comes through the false hypo was scary and didn’t like the feeling

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Clarelryxx

Sorry to hear you've been on a bit of a rollercoaster with your diabetes, your medication, and your mood

It’s not at all uncommon to have a bit of emotional and psychological upheaval with a diagnosis of diabetes… and you’ve had a double whammy!

It’s unfortunate that investigations weren’t undertaken at the beginning as you were an atypical presentation. Sadly sometimes T2 is assumed largely on the basis on ‘not being a child’, when in reality 50% of T1s are diagnosed in adulthood.

My go-to snacks have been nuts for years. A few handfuls don’t contain enough carbs to worry my BGs much.

 

[Clarelryxx]

Thank you I appreciate any advice for s newbie

 

[Eternal422]

Hi @Clarelryxx, glad you found these forums, it really helps to share with others in a similar position as yourself. There are loads of knowledgeable people here who can offer advice and support.

Like yourself I was initially diagnosed as T2 but 5 years afterwards ended up on insulin only. 20 years later now diagnosed as T1, which I must have been all along. I still puzzle over it all but I think the main thing is to embrace what works and get as much help from your healthcare team as you can to help you manage your levels and live your life how you want to.

I believe the approach is to gradually bring people down slowly into a “normal range” and that you can feel “fake” hypos if your BG drops below your previous high levels, so a 9.7 may feel like a hypo to you if your usual levels were much higher. But I’m sure that the insulin will quickly bring you back into a better range soon. I would imagine you will be put onto a basal-bolus regime which will give you loads of flexibility to control your BGs. Do press for the Libre, it is a real game changer and helps tremendously in showing you exactly what is going on with your BG levels, something that finger stick testing doesn’t really do, only giving you a few snapshots and sore fingers!

Good luck and welcome!

 

[Clarelryxx]

Many thanks I’m sure I will get there

 

[offspin]

Hi , Little concerned to read that in a few cases people who were Type 2 diabetic age now type 1

Is this a case of initial misdiagnosis or does migration take place between 2 to 1 in some cases ?

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Is this a case of initial misdiagnosis or does migration take place between 2 to 1 in some cases ?

I don't think migration is possible. It's certainly possible for people to have been misdiagnosed (especially with slowly developing Type 1).

There's also nothing stopping (as far as I know) someone with Type 2 from subsequently developing autoimmune conditions like Type 1, but (again, as far as I know) that would be unrelated to their Type 2.

 

[offspin]

I don't think migration is possible. It's certainly possible for people to have been misdiagnosed (especially with slowly developing Type 1).

There's also nothing stopping (as far as I know) someone with Type 2 from subsequently developing autoimmune conditions like Type 1, but (again, as far as I know) that would be unrelated to their Type 2.

Hi , thank you very much for the information.Much appreciated.

 

[Eternal422]

@offspin as @Bruce Stephens has said migration from T2 to T1 doesn’t happen. However there are definitely cases of people being initially misdiagnosed as T2 (such as myself). I think that some time back it was assumed you were T2 if presenting with symptoms as an adult, however this is definitely not the case. My DSN said they were seeing people of all ages present with symptoms who have been diagnosed as T1.

From my understanding, T2 is a progressive condition where insulin resistance and reduction or cessation of insulin production cause higher BG. However there are plenty of treatments now as well as lifestyle changes that can halt this progression. T1 on the other hand is where your pancreas does not produce any insulin but your body is still sensitive to insulin, so you have to rely on injecting insulin to keep your BG levels within range.

 

[offspin]

@offspin as @Bruce Stephens has said migration from T2 to T1 doesn’t happen. However there are definitely cases of people being initially misdiagnosed as T2 (such as myself). I think that some time back it was assumed you were T2 if presenting with symptoms as an adult, however this is definitely not the case. My DSN said they were seeing people of all ages present with symptoms who have been diagnosed as T1.

From my understanding, T2 is a progressive condition where insulin resistance and reduction or cessation of insulin production cause higher BG. However there are plenty of treatments now as well as lifestyle changes that can halt this progression. T1 on the other hand is where your pancreas does not produce any insulin but your body is still sensitive to insulin, so you have to rely on injecting insulin to keep your BG levels within range.

Hi , thank you for your reply , much appreciated