Introducing myself...

grace girl · #1 (**permalink**) 06-23-2006, 07:26 PM

Hi,
I've been lurking for a few days...very impressed with the site. I'm new to
1.5, but not diabetes. I was incorrectly diagnosed with type 2 6 years ago at age 32. Four years ago I was diagnosed with Type 1, but the quality of care I recieved during those years wasn't too great. I was on Humalog mix 75/25, and my sugars were a mess.
A few months ago I realized that I had to do something, so I found a new Dr., who sent me to an endo for the first time ever. He's now decided that I'm 1.5. I'm now on Lantus and Humalog, learning carb counting, and trying to get back in control. I've got quite a few questions, but I'll post them seperate to spare you the pain! Looking forward to learning a lot here.

4519 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-23-2006, 07:30 PM

Welcome to the forum.

Your story of medical mis-diagnosis is too common to think it unusual - well, maybe not the multiple diagnosis part. The medical profession has to take some responsibility for the current poor state of diabetes treatment.

Jump right in - there are a lot of experienced people here.

am1977 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-24-2006, 07:16 AM

Hey Grace girl

I don't envy you with having to go through all that confusion with your diagnosis... But I don't think you are the only one to go through that.

Anyway, hopefully now this new doctor knows what he is talking about and is going to help you get on the right treatment plan to manage your disease... that's what matters most!

Please feel free to jump right in with your questions ... we'll try to help if we can

Penny · #4 (**permalink**) 06-24-2006, 07:51 AM

Welcome Grace,

beveykin · #5 (**permalink**) 06-24-2006, 11:00 AM

Welcome Grace glad yoy joined us were a friendly lot here

duck · #6 (**permalink**) 06-24-2006, 11:02 AM

Grace, what makes them say you are a "1.5" versus a plain old fashioned "1"? is it your age?

valc3 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-24-2006, 11:25 AM

Hi Grace and welcome.

grace girl · #8 (**permalink**) 06-24-2006, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duck

Grace, what makes them say you are a "1.5" versus a plain old fashioned "1"? is it your age?

That's what the endo says! I was 32 at initial diagnosis. He told me that anyone over 30 diagnosed with type 1 is usually type 1.5. Or, for the fancy term....it's latent autoimmune diabetes.
To avoid complicated discussions with most people who have never heard of this ( like myself!) I usually just tell people, type 1, I'm apparently a late bloomer.

duck · #9 (**permalink**) 06-24-2006, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grace girl

That's what the endo says! I was 32 at initial diagnosis. He told me that anyone over 30 diagnosed with type 1 is usually type 1.5. Or, for the fancy term....it's latent autoimmune diabetes.
To avoid complicated discussions with most people who have never heard of this ( like myself!) I usually just tell people, type 1, I'm apparently a late bloomer.

Meh. If you had cancer, no matter what age you are, it's still cancer. It beffudles me why people who are supposed to be intelligent (the medical community) can't grasp the thought that non-teenagers can develope T1. I realize LADA has a clinical definition, but so does T1...So if someone presents with T1 symptoms, even if they are 80, why are doctors wigged out about diagnosing the obvious?

/rant

Welcome, btw. I hope you get a lot out of this site, but be warned we are an ornery bunch.

JediSkipdogg · #10 (**permalink**) 06-24-2006, 08:40 PM

Welcome to the site and I agree with duck. Personally, I've yet to grasp what a type 1.5 fully is. Type 2 can occur in 8 year olds and type 1 can occur in 60 year olds. 20 years ago age was the deciding factor, now it's not age, but symptons. And I think pretty soon it may change down to treatment methods or what actually caused it, since about 20 different things can cause type 2.

Again, welcome to the site, ask alot of questions and join in on the fun.

grace girl · #11 (**permalink**) 06-24-2006, 10:05 PM

I agree about the 1.5 thing, myself. If it's the same thing as type 1, then what exactly does my age have to do with it? Perhaps it just satisfies the medical communities need to put things in little boxes! With the exception of being concerned about ketones, I'm being treated as if I had type 1. And from what I understand, the only thing that caused them to label me 1.5 was the age of onset. All of the blood work they ran said type 1. I am making no insulin, have no insulin resistance....it seems fairly plain to me.
I ended up going to an endo because after hearing my whole story my new GP wasn't certain himself what it was, and he said he would feel better treating me with a more certain diagnosis. When the endo first mentioned 1.5, I actually thought it was something he had made up himself. It wasn't until I did some digging on the 'net that I realized that other people had the same ideas.

mg_2204 · #12 (**permalink**) 06-25-2006, 12:29 AM

Hello Grace and welcome to this wonderful place!

kgm0612 · #13 (**permalink**) 06-25-2006, 04:34 PM

Welcome to the forum. I was dx'd a type 1 three years ago at the age of 40. My pancreas is producing about 3% insulin. I have a younger brother who was dx'd when he was 21, almost 20 years ago, and a strong family history of type 1 on my father's side of the family.

Karen