What is LADA?

[Dimes]

My diabetes educator thought I might have LADA when I first met with her, and recently when she is surprised how little insulin I am taking.. I'm pretty sure it had something to do with type 1.5.. So what is it, and does it have any implications for the future?

Thanks

[JediSkipdogg]

In my opinion Type 1.5/LADA is the same as type 1. The diagnosing factor for it really having it's own group is that it comes on later in life (generally after 18 years old) and takes comes along alot slower.

The truth is the earlier a person is the faster their diagnosis is. I was diagnosed at 11 months old and was diagnosed full blown type 1 within about 2 days of my symptoms starting. Unfortunately I don't think they did tons of blood work back then so I don't know what some numbers were back then.

My theory (and some medical journals) for the reason it takes longer later in life is because the younger the age the smaller the pancreas and the less islet cells producing insulin along with a weaker immune system. Therefore the auto-immune disorder associated with type 1 can hit alot faster and harder. Later in life the body can fend for itself alot longer making the diagnosis slower and the time from diagnosis to being 100% relying on manufactured insulin alot longer.

I hope that helps some.

[Dimes]

Yeah that makes sense.. I'm 28 and was diagnosed 3 months ago. The endocrinologist thinks my insulin requirements right now are pretty low given my weight, because I am still producing some insulin. She is pretty sure I am a type 1 though. (we are going to do another blood test in a couple weeks)

I forgot to ask her about LADA, but I will next time. The diabetes educators threw that term out there with me a couple times.

I wonder how long I had this for? Definitely I noticed a few strange episodes in the 3 months leading up to diagnosis, but maybe it goes even further back.

11 months.. That is pretty rough, I can't imagine how difficult it must be for a kid/family..

[tanyatype1]

Have you heard of the Honeymoon phase? The reason that your insulin requirements are so low is because you're still in this phase and could be for quite some time.

[morrisma]

When I was dx'ed 18 years ago at age 35, I was told I was probably always at risk and that my immune system was just not very good (yet) at destroying my eyelet cells. I then got a virus that apparently kicked the immune system into high gear. The virus probably had a protein shape that matched my eyelet cells and when the virus had been routed, my immune system stayed in high gear to kill off my insulin producing capability. Nice.

Anyway, I was also told that I would be completely, undetectably normal with only 10% function of those cells so I could have had quite a bit of impaired pancreatic function long before I was ever dx'ed.

My honeymoon lasted 8 months.
Mike

[SGT Shoutmore]

I am not your "typical" (As if typical can describe diabetic anything) type II diabetic. Initially DX'd at age 8, then at age 10, no sign of diabetes. Odd, isn't it?

At age 34, I was losing weight rapidly, had the 3 P's going for me, and hwen I went to renew my emergency vehicle's operator's endorsement, glucose was found in my urine. Blood work was ordered, a fasting A1-C nailed the DX, Surprise, Diabetes! Of course, DMV revocation of my Emergency Vehicle Operator's endorsement was a given. Enter the pill years..

This went on for several years where I could simply skip a few pills, work out, carefully watch my carbs and stay within range, allowing me to squeak by enough to re-enlist in the military.

Life was going fairly well, then all the sudden, rapid weight loss, exhausted all the time, lethargic, felt like I wasn't going to see another day, when I sought out a new GP who did an A1-C that was 13. A referral to an Endo who said "buddy, you should have been on insulin LONG ago". So, here I am, somwhere between type 1 and type 2. Initially Dx'd as a juvi to have diabetes vanish for nearly 2 decades to have to rear it's ugly head.

I can't say I am within LADA criteria as I *DO* have some insulin resistance (Remedied with actos) but I have VERY LITTLE of my own insulin, a very few islets remaining that requires me to now inject insulin. (Levimir at night 1x and novolog 4 x)

My dosages are giving me far greater control over my blood sugars with lows to the 70s and highs of 150s, this is an acceptable range to me IMHO as prior results where lows of 280 mg/dl to 510 mg/dl. While a pump would give me even greater control over my blood glucose levels, the fact that I produce SOME insulin, while very little, is what my insurance company reasons for declining to pay for an insulin pump. As my diabetes progresses, I am quite certain this will change as the last of my islets bite the dust.

Is LADA my experience? The jury is indecisive, I expereince some insulin resistance as earlier mentioned, which is not consstant with LADA. The endo lovingly referes to my type of diabetes as type 1.5, some aspects of a two, not quite a 1 with juvinile initial onset. Go figure.

While trying to understand just what went wrong that has set me apart from other people, those without diabetes, that has resulted in me drastically changing my lifestyle, I am not angry, just often frustrated and more often than that, confused.

I have just arrived at this forum, so many people so similiar in what I am experiencing, it does put things in a better perspective though, this little tidbits of information come to gether slowly and make it a little easier to understand.

Does anyone else have any information about LADA in respects to diabetics that do have some measure of insulin resistance or does insulin resistance rule out LADA?

Sorry for the "book" post, I am notoriously "wordy".

ETA: After beginning insulin, weight started packing on. Holy cheeseburger batman!

[BlueSky]

.... Is LADA my experience? The jury is indecisive, I expereince some insulin resistance as earlier mentioned, which is not consstant with LADA. The endo lovingly referes to my type of diabetes as type 1.5, some aspects of a two, not quite a 1 with juvinile initial onset. Go figure. ....
I think it would be more accurate to say that insulin resistance is not typical with LADA. Being LADA, or T1 for that matter, doesn't preclude insulin resistance. Anyone can get it.

Have you considered that you could be MODY (Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young)? The fact that your diabetes seemed to go away and came back again, and that it responded to pills, suggests to me that this could be the case.

I guess the type of diabetes is somewhat academic now. All that really matters is that you are getting treatment and it is effective. Keep up the good work ;) .

[TomB]

If you're at Pendleton, then Semper Fi. Got a couple kids who spent a lot time there.

Curious: Initially DX'd at age 8, then at age 10, no sign of diabetes. Odd, isn't it?
----------------
By now this is probably entered into your medical history, but you might want to revisit it. A lot of things happen to 8 year olds that might look like diabetes but are something else. Reason I mention this is that there might not be any connection between the 8 year old stuff and present stuff. That might become important down the road when you start thinking about seperation.
Tom - AF S/Sarge

[SGT Shoutmore]

If you're at Pendleton, then Semper Fi. Got a couple kids who spent a lot time there.

Curious: Initially DX'd at age 8, then at age 10, no sign of diabetes. Odd, isn't it?
----------------
By now this is probably entered into your medical history, but you might want to revisit it. A lot of things happen to 8 year olds that might look like diabetes but are something else. Reason I mention this is that there might not be any connection between the 8 year old stuff and present stuff. That might become important down the road when you start thinking about seperation.
Tom - AF S/Sarge

No, I am not at Pendleton, I'm Army. :)

I want to spend some time talking with my endo about my having initially been DX'd at age 8. I've mentioned it to him before but we never really went in depth about it.

[TomB]

You ran into an Air Force C-130 clown here. My youngest boy saw the light and he too is AF and right now hanging around Kuwait. My other 2 boys didn't see the light and went the jar headed way.
Hey, we sure had a ton of fun with the Army guys doing their first jump. Didn't matter how calm the weatherman said it was, those boys always seemed to hit the roughest darn weather. I want you to know that I was among the proud crew of the 1st C-130 that got their load of jumpers puking in the aisle. For that, the other crews bought us all the beers. They said we cheated cuz our crew chief started to eat some stew out of a barf bag. Twas a beautiful sight - 89 barfing kids except their sarge about killed himself laughing.
Tally Ho,
Tom