Confused

[Laura01]

:confused: Hi Everyone! I have been reading some of the posts on this sight all day, everyone seems to know alot more about this stuff than I do, hoping for some insight. I was diagnosed with T1D just this past December 07. I am 36 years old with no family history, I am of average weight with good diet and exercise habits. Can't understand the logic, I don't fit into any of the category's they have outlined and can't get a straight answer from the Doc as to what type I am for sure..When any of you were first diagnosed was there this issue with what type you were, or was it pretty cut and dry?

[Evermont]

Hi Laura, welcome to DF. Sorry you have reason to be here, but glad you found us anyway!

Unfortunately Diabetes sneaks up on unsuspecting unlikely folks too. I don't think we always know why it happens just that it does. There are theories but I'm not sure anyone has it all figured out.

[princesslinda]

Welcome Laura! Glad you found the forum. At diagnosis, I was clearly T2, as I was quite overweight, sedentary, had a very strong family history of T2 as well.

Type 1 diabetics produce no insulin on their own and must inject synthetic insulin to mimic what the body would do normally. In Type 2 diabetes, insulin is produced, but the body doesn't properly utilize the insulin.

Did your doctor do a C-peptide test at diagnosis? Often this is useful in determining which type you are. Are you on insulin?

[DCaplinger]

There are other things, such as environmental or diet that could cause damage to the pancreas and beta cells, besides auto-immune dysfunction that could cause diabetes.

Welcome aboard. Please ask any questions you might have, no matter how small they may seem. :) Before you know it, you'll be an old pro as well.

Regards,

[xMenace]

Welcome to the forum.

No answers. I was an active teen, so I was pretty straightforward.

[BlueSky]

.... I was diagnosed with T1D just this past December 07. ..... can't get a straight answer from the Doc as to what type I am for sure......
There often is confusion over the initial diagnosis because T1 in the early stages often looks like T2. It is unusual but possible for thin people to become T2 and fat people to become T1. When I became a diabetic, they only decided I was T1 when I didn't respond to T2 drugs. But that was 30 years ago. There are now tests that help with diagnosis. Answering some questions would help.

- On what basis was T1 diagnosed?
- Why is there doubt about what type you are?
- Did you go into DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis)?
- Have you been tested for the GAD antibodies?
- Has the insulin level or c-peptide been tested?

[Laura01]

They haven't done any tests,other than an A1c which was 10 %. I was admitted to hospital because I was in ketoacidosis and my sugar was 31mmol/L. I am currently on novorapid 3 times a day and Lantus at bedtime, originally the doc had prescribed metformin as well but the diabetic clinic nurse told me to stop taking it that she believes I am T1 and it was just causing some serious stomach issues. The doc recently told me that there is no fool proof test to determine which type I am, just that we will have to play around with the meds. Pretty frustrating! Should I ask the clinic to recommend the tests you mentioned?

[rzrbks]

Your story sounds a lot like mine.

PCP first thought T2, but I didn't fit the description. Very active, not over-weight, ate well. The CDE I worked with decided that I was T1.5 and suggested going off Avandia and PCP agreed, and I have been in good control ever since {{ bragging a bit here, after initial Dx, haven't had A1c above 5.9}}

but then I test constantly and, thanks to some fine folks here at DF, I learned to do correction boluses and bring highs down faster than CDE and her cohorts wanted to allow me. Thank goodness, new PCP keeps saying, "You just do whatever you've been doing."