getting a LADA dx?

[foxl]

How is LADA typically dx'd, and WHEN?

C-pep, antibodies, or both? And ASAP, or after several months of attempting oral meds regimens?

What is cheaper and thus I am more apt to get tested for ... C-pep, or antibodies? I know my kids' ped and my PCP both have said antibodies are costly and not that meaningful, for different issues ... but, if I have a chance to preserve beta cell function for culture purposes or whathaveyou, I sure would rather?

Please share your experiences of LADA diagnosis, here!

ETA: Did you have to push for a dx, or did the Doc just do it?

[lorilei]

i will find my answer for this as i know it is posted here and there and here again...as for the cost..i don't know really...but i thinkcpeptide can give you a better idea of how much insulin biproduct you are producing...as type1 's produce none or very little and type 2's often produce too much it seems pretty definitive...as for antibodies...some have them and some don't upon dx...many of us tested for antibodies after cpeptide was already reduced..

i went from what seemed to be GD to dx with lada a few months after delivery when BG rose again...i was very sensitive to insulin...

[lorilei]

I think i would ask your insurance company regarding cost and coverage...

[foxl]

I think i would ask your insurance company regarding cost and coverage...

Yeah, there is THAT ... I just hate calling them ...

[mortis505]

Go for a C-Peptide. Antibodies are not always present.

[foxl]

Go for a C-Peptide. Antibodies are not always present.

See to me, that would be the most logical thing to do ... to determine whether I need insulin or not. It would be the most practical probably. Does anyone know the cost of a C-pep?

I feel like I am being fobbed off as a whiner or something.

[Keezheekoni]

Linda, instead of calling your insurance, call the lab that you'll get drawn at. That way you can know what the cost is for someone out of pocket. If your insurance covers labs at 80%, then you can be sure that they'll either pay that amount, or they'll have a contracted rate with the lab and you'll end up paying less. :)

The labs around here all charge different prices, but I'm going in for a draw today, so I can ask them... they're a PacLab lab.

[mortis505]

Costs vary from lab to lab, Dr to Dr, insurance to insurance. Only way to be sure is to call the Drs office and/or insurance company.

[foxl]

Linda, instead of calling your insurance, call the lab that you'll get drawn at. That way you can know what the cost is for someone out of pocket. If your insurance covers labs at 80%, then you can be sure that they'll either pay that amount, or they'll have a contracted rate with the lab and you'll end up paying less. :)

The labs around here all charge different prices, but I'm going in for a draw today, so I can ask them... they're a PacLab lab.

They have their own vampires and send it out, not sure where ... I will ask when I go in next. I was just wondering the gross cost, and if my MD is hesitant to test me, due to some financial interest?

[lorilei]

gotta say..ultimatley it is the insurance company who knows what they pay...i have been told something was covered by a lab only to get the bill further down the road..the insurance company then said..you should have called us..the lab less than a mile away was completely in their network....

[Ategeler]

I am also struggling with an "official" LADA diagnosis. I have positive GAD Antibodies but have not had the C-PeptideTest. How do they differentiate between Type 1 and LADA? Is there a test or is just based on when the disease manifested itself?

[RobinP]

What is LADA? I'm confused at all the abbreviations. lol Is there a list somewhere on here that tells us what they are?

[mortis505]

Lada stands for Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults

There is also a list of Acronyms here = http://www.diabetesforums.com/forum/diabetes/28438-acronyms.html

[RobinP]

Ok
thanks!! :)

[foxl]

I am also struggling with an "official" LADA diagnosis. I have positive GAD Antibodies but have not had the C-PeptideTest. How do they differentiate between Type 1 and LADA? Is there a test or is just based on when the disease manifested itself?

If you have late onset, gradually-declining insulin (or increasing C-peptide?), I would guess you'd be categorized as having LADA. My MD seems to thinks the lines are pretty vblurry and does not want to test ...

[Ategeler]

Yes- my Endo seems to be somewhat non-commital on the testing issue too. I am going to press further b/c I am interested to see what my C-Peptide levels are at this time.

[mortis505]

C-peptide is created when proinsulin is split into insulin and connecting peptide. A decrease in insulin production means a decrease in C-peptide as well.

[foxl]

Had my one month f/u appt today. Doc will do C-peptide, when I see him in 3 mos. I wish he had suggested it when I asked about antibody testing ... oh, well.