Was it Type 1 or Type 2?

[Katieb]

I wonder what your thoughts are on this. My dad was an insulin dependent diabetic, as was his mother and aunt before him. I never really asked, so don't know if he was Type 1 or Type 2. I have always assumed Type 1 due to the insulin dependence, but know now that this may be incorrect. He was diagnosed at 29 when he went to hospital for a routine op. He was tried on tablets but progressed to insulin as they didn't work. He wasn't overweight. I don't know if he lost weight before diagnosis. He was quite slim as a young man. I wish now I had asked more when he was alive. Doctors ask me quesions I can't answer. He ignored his diabetes for his mid years and paid the price for his poor control, becoming an amputee at 70, then passing away with multiple organ failure at 78, despite from aged 60 onwards trying to look after himself better. In the days of his diagnosis a lot less was know about diabetes and now I wish perhaps I knew more. I know it's impossible to guess, but wonder what your thoughts are? Thanks. Katie

 

[Copepod]

What year was his diagnosis? Because treatment regimes have changed over the years, with more tablets becoming available over the years, whereas in earlier years, it was basically metformin or insulin for type 2, insulin only for type 1.

 

[Katieb]

What year was his diagnosis? Because treatment regimes have changed over the years, with more tablets becoming available over the years, whereas in earlier years, it was basically metformin or insulin for type 2, insulin only for type 1.

I don't know which is why I am trying to work it out. I wondered about LADA as he was 29 and not overweight? It seems more like Type 1 than Type 2 to me, but I don't really know enough to say for sure. Maybe it's irrelevant now, but it would just be good to have an idea. As I say, tablets (I assume Metformin) never worked so he was prescribed insulin. Katie

 

[Copepod]

If you know he was 29 at diagnois, and presumably know his birth year (can calculate from age at death (78) and year of death), you should be able to work out the year of his diagnosis?

 

[Katieb]

If you know he was 29 at diagnois, and presumably know his birth year (can calculate from age at death (78) and year of death), you should be able to work out the year of his diagnosis?

Sorry, how stupid am I - read what was his diagnosis not what YEAR was his diagnosis!!!😱 His year of diagnosis was 1958! Which I have googled and was the year Metformin was approved! Sorry! Katie

 

[Copepod]

That makes sense, Katie - in 1958, there weren't many treatmen options; before metformin, it was diet only or insulin & diet; division between type 1 and type 2 diabetes wasn't made until quite recently; in late 80s, when I trained as a nurse, the division was between IDDM and NIDDM (Non / Insulin Dependent Diabetes)

I wasn't trying to make you feel stupid, just to establish facts - and now you've found the answer yourself ! 🙂

 

[Katieb]

That makes sense, Katie - in 1958, there weren't many treatmen options; before metformin, it was diet only or insulin & diet; division between type 1 and type 2 diabetes wasn't made until quite recently; in late 80s, when I trained as a nurse, the division was between IDDM and NIDDM (Non / Insulin Dependent Diabetes)

I wasn't trying to make you feel stupid, just to establish facts - and now you've found the answer yourself ! 🙂

I know you weren't and thank you! So based on what I know, do you think Type 1, LADA or Type 2? And, does it even matter?!! 🙂

 

[Northerner]

I know you weren't and thank you! So based on what I know, do you think Type 1, LADA or Type 2? And, does it even matter?!! 🙂

I would guess Type 1/LADA since he does not appear to have the major risk factors for Type 2 and he was quite young still.

 

[Copepod]

Based on his 29 years age & normal weight (my assumption) at diagnosis in 1958, plus knowledge that type 1 often develops more slowly in adults than children, so that it would have been worth trying a tablet (especially the only new treatment for any type of diabetes since insulin had been first administered in 1920s) I'd vote for type 1 being most likely, as it's more common tha LADA, and there's a popular saying in medical diagnosis - "when you hear galloping hoofsteps, look first for horses, not zebras".

 

[Katieb]

Thank you both 🙂 I know I can never truly know 100%, but at least I have a good idea and you confirm what I thought, so that helps. It's amazing how far things have come in my lifetime! 🙂 Katie

 

[Mark T]

Yes, it's a pain that you will never know.

My father, my uncle and myself were all diagnosed in our 30's. I don't believe that any of us were obese at diagnosis, but certainly overweight. Unfortunately in there cases, once you are diagnosed it seems that any interest in further diagnostic testing seems to disappear,

Although, my consultant considers that since I am fairly stable and in control 1.5 years after diagnosis, the probability that I am Type 1 or Type 1.5 is rapidly diminishing.

There are of course other forms of diabetes too, and Type 2 seems to be used a very broad brush indeed. Although the perception of Type 2 in the media and by the medical profession seems to centre around those with significant insulin resistance issues.