27 and just diagnosed with type 1?????

[Ohana]

Hey, I haven't posted in forever, but I was told by my GP that I had Impaired Glucose Intolerance (leading to type 2 diabetes), but my Endocrinologist that my GP referred me to just told me I actually have type one, and it just hasn't gotten bad enough to need insulin yet...

My questions are: is 27 years old (today actually :)) unusually old to develop type one?

Should I be worried if I have type 1 vs LADA? Does any one think I should ASK to be tested for the autoimmune disease?

I thought type 1 immediately needed insulin... Is it unusual to have a period of diet management with type 1?

Oh, so new, and so so so many questions. Please give me some info or some good websites!!! there are so many and I am in Grad school, so my research time has been limited.

Thanks!!!!

[matingara]

i am not an expert. i think LADA is a sub-type of Type 1.

i don't hold much with the Type 1 and Type 2 distinction. i think they are pretty meaningless.

i think Type 1/LADA can start anytime up to the age of 60.

as the pancreas generally wears out the need for exogenous insulin will increase.

there is a lot of evidence that suggests that if you start on insulin early (e.g. now) you can preserve the remaining function of your pancreas indefinitely. i would suggest you ask your Doctor about this.

:)

-- Joel.

[dbc]

Hey, I haven't posted in forever, but I was told by my GP that I had Impaired Glucose Intolerance (leading to type 2 diabetes), but my Endocrinologist that my GP referred me to just told me I actually have type one, and it just hasn't gotten bad enough to need insulin yet...

My questions are: is 27 years old (today actually :)) unusually old to develop type one?

Should I be worried if I have type 1 vs LADA? Does any one think I should ASK to be tested for the autoimmune disease?

I thought type 1 immediately needed insulin... Is it unusual to have a period of diet management with type 1?

Oh, so new, and so so so many questions. Please give me some info or some good websites!!! there are so many and I am in Grad school, so my research time has been limited.

Thanks!!!!

Well, Happy Birthday!! :)

The purists out there (if there are any!) will argue the point back and forth of "do you have T1 or T1.5" because you have been diagnosed relatively late. A waste of energy, IMO. . . Fact is, you've got a diagnosis that requires firstly a lifestyle change, secondly long term medication (exogenous insulin)

If you are diagnosed early enough - as in you still have a useful level of beta cell function left - and the condition progresses relatively slowly, yes, you can manage with diet for a time - but it's pretty hard work. I did it for 2 years - but then I'm definitely LADA (diagnosed at age 52) and even now I still have a low level of beta cell function ( been using insulin just short of 2 years now).

T1 is already an autoimmune disease, T1.5 is just a variannt of it. On what basis did the endo arrive at the T1 diagnosis? I just don't think there's much point in getting tested for T1.5 if your T1 diagnosis is rock solid. The treatment/management plan is pretty much the same for both.

As said above, consider starting insulin earlier rather than later. In my case the endo was worried about starting insulin to early, his worry was possible hypos by having to much injected insulin on top of my own production. I eventually started insulin in very small doses when my A1c crept up to 6.9%.

Good luck going forward - whilst it's true that this thing can't be beaten in the sense of a cure (not yet, anyway. . . ), It can most definately be beaten in the sense that there is no reason for you not to have a normal life, with a bit of extra diabetes management activity "layered" on top.

Dave

[mazea]

I have type 1, late onset at 30. I had borderline fasting glucose 2 years before I was diagnosed with type 1.

I think it is great that you have been able to catch your diabetes early. I wish I had as I ended up with slight kidney damage when I ended up getting diagnosed at a late stage.

Type 1 including LADA, Mody and Type 2 diabetes are treated differently. If you end up being type 2 you will respond to medications. If you end up with Mody(genetic), you will respond to sulfs, and if you have type 1, you won't respond to medications. Insulin is used for type 1 and Mody and when medications are no longer working adequately for type 2.

Good to find out which type you have. One way is to do a antibody test to check if you have type 1. Most type 1's are positive for this but not all type 1's are positive as not all antibodies have been discovered yet. I'm negative for antibodies yet am type 1. C Peptide is a good indicator of which type you have. Type 1's have very low C peptide- normal, Mody is normal c-peptide and Type 2's usually have high C peptide results.

Also Happy birthday !

[sprzepiora]

is 27 years old (today actually :)) unusually old to develop type one?

Nope, I got it at 36.


Should I be worried if I have type 1 vs LADA? Does any one think I should ASK to be tested for the autoimmune disease?

Not really, your doctor could also make the case that going on insulin right could prolong any honeymoon you will have. This might make it easier to develop the skills you will need for this disease, but listen to your doctor and make your own decision. If your doctor will run the test to confirm your T1 it could help with insurance and would keep your GP and endo from arguing over it.



Oh, so new, and so so so many questions. Please give me some info or some good websites!!! there are so many and I am in Grad school, so my research time has been limited.

Thanks!!!!

Be prepared to spend many hours on learning the skills you will need. I think the most important piece of advice I can give you is try not to get frustrated at your levels, its just a test. Your levels could be high because its the second Thursday of the month where the day is an even number and the sun rose with a pink sky. In other words sometimes it just happens.


Welcome to the forums, this place helped me out a lot when I was first diagnosed. There are a bunch of nice people on here.

[matingara]

Fact is, you've got a diagnosis that requires firstly a lifestyle change, secondly long term medication (exogenous insulin)

just to be picky here. i don't regard exogenous insulin as a medication. it is not a drug. it is a hormone. it is (as close as darnit) a natural therapy...

:)

-- Joel.

[lorilei]

Hi and HB Ohana!

just wondering what made your doc determine type 1? you are right it does sound more lada-ish since you are not in acute distress...if you are not fully depleted, the decision to go on insulin can be a tough one....if you consistently have higher numbers, then it does seem beneficial...if your numbers, especially fasting, are all over the place and you still get inconsistent dumps, then it is a trickier decision...personally i have got rid of carbs from the table for the most part..no i'm not happy about it, but i was not very good at insulin the first time...that being said, i am reading extensively to be more skilled the next time...education is so important...may i suggest purusing Joel's (matingara) thread about his recent insulin enhanced life? good luck! and welcome to the club!

sorry this is my second time to type this (little kids keep tickling the keys) so i may have muddled things up abit!

[Funnygrl]

I'd say LADA not cause of age (though age further supports it) but because of lack of immediate insulin requirement.

[Ohana]

you guys have been so helpful!!! I am not sure what made him make the Type 1 vs Type 2.

I go back on the 23rd, I will have to ask him.

However, Just to show my lack of knowledge, he DID test for type one, I thought there was a different test for LADA.

Oh well.


:) Everyone on here is allowed to be stupid the first month or so, right?

[howdysf]

My questions are: is 27 years old (today actually :)) unusually old to develop type one?

Should I be worried if I have type 1 vs LADA? Does any one think I should ASK to be tested for the autoimmune disease?

I thought type 1 immediately needed insulin... Is it unusual to have a period of diet management with type 1?



All I know is my own experience, but I was diagonosed at 32 with Type 1 diabetes... I did need insulin immediately and had the classic signs (rapid weight loss, insatiable thirst, urinating all the time, etc.)...

So I guess it's not too late in life to develop it... type 1 does run in my family though, and I'm glad I got to go all those years without it..

[Subby]

just to be picky here. i don't regard exogenous insulin as a medication. it is not a drug. it is a hormone. it is (as close as darnit) a natural therapy...

:)

-- Joel.

OT time----

Modern insulin is highly designed and manufactured in a laboratory, and administered exogenously. Its function is to enhance or restore health. As many with IDDM who have tried different type of insulins could attest, various forms and brands can certainly have specific side effects because they are not your body's natural hormone. All these things make it hard to consider insulin anything but a drug.

It's an even further stretch to not call it a medication. Medications can include pretty much anything introduced into the body to ease ailments or aid health. Natural therapies often include "medications". Being a hormone replacement doesn't nullify this at all. Often drugs and medications are substitutes or analogues.

I understand wanting to think oneself drug free - but I think it's better to call a spade a spade! Take comfort in the fact that if a "bad drug" in terms of artificiality and bad long term side effects is a 10, insulin is probably about a 1 or 2.

---OT time off!

[jenb]

I was diagnosed Type 1 just before my 53rd birthday.

As for insulin, whatever we call it, thank goodness it's available. I'm really not ready for the alternative!

[Tattoo azz]

What a great birthday present!!
Don't panic you'll soon be a pro at handling diabetes.
The main bit of advice i'll give is,,, test, test, test, test and then test some more just to make sure. There're a lot of great books to read too (strangely i can't think of any at the mo lol), but everyone on df is great and they have helped me and loads of others get a handle on this.
p.s welcome aboard
Azz

[jenb]

Two books come to mind: Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner and Using Insulin by John Walsh.

[Siri]

All I know is my own experience, but I was diagonosed at 32 with Type 1 diabetes... I did need insulin immediately and had the classic signs (rapid weight loss, insatiable thirst, urinating all the time, etc.)...

So I guess it's not too late in life to develop it... type 1 does run in my family though, and I'm glad I got to go all those years without it..
I also got diagnosed at age 31....definatley Type 1 , usual symptoms same as "howdysf". My symptoms came on severe and fast ( 6 weeks) .I am also grateful I had 31 yrs of not dealing with this disease.I also have T1 in my family. So I think you should not take age into your aquation and just take the steps you need to feel in control and get better and everyone here is AMAZING for support! Good Luck x

[Brian23]

I was diagnosed about a year and a half ago at the age of 26 with an A1c of 8.5. I was able to control with diet and exercise for 6 months or so, then needed Lantus, then needed Lantus and humalog with meals. Dr. tried to say I was type II but did not fit the frame(5'11, 132 @ dx). I will be turning 28 in April and my weight is up to 145lbs, I eat what ever I want, just try to bolus correctly. I try not to have too many non diet drinks. If you have any questions or would just like to talk to someone who can relate just send me a private message.

[Brian J]

I also got diagnosed at age 31....definatley Type 1 , usual symptoms same as "howdysf". My symptoms came on severe and fast ( 6 weeks) .I am also grateful I had 31 yrs of not dealing with this disease.I also have T1 in my family. So I think you should not take age into your aquation and just take the steps you need to feel in control and get better and everyone here is AMAZING for support! Good Luck x

All I know is my own experience, but I was diagonosed at 32 with Type 1 diabetes... I did need insulin immediately and had the classic signs (rapid weight loss, insatiable thirst, urinating all the time, etc.)...

So I guess it's not too late in life to develop it... type 1 does run in my family though, and I'm glad I got to go all those years without it..

I'm another diagnosed at age 32 with Type 1. I don't know how long I had it before, as I was seemingly healthy and hadn't been to a doctor for years. Over a period of 2 or 3 weeks, I had rapid weight loss, thirsty all the time, etc. It's possible I didn't recognize any symptoms and had it for a while. I don't have a family history of T1. When I checked myself into emergency in 1987, I was quite an oddity, and was interviewed by numerous diabetes specialists and researchers. What interested them was the lack of previous symptoms and rapid onset and my age. I also never had a "honeymoon period", so for whatever reason, my pancreas was totally shut down. So I have to agree that impairment of the pancreas can occur differently without much regard for age.