LADA blood sugars

[angelsbridges]

Was anyone here dx prediabetic before getting a dx of LADA?
Did you have symptoms as a prediabetic? If so, what?
What were your numbers like?
What tests did your doctor order to find out?



I have all the symptoms of type II - but I am slender and healthy. My cholesterol was a little high, but is fine now, and my bad cholesterol (HDL) isn't high. I have no high BP or other issues. My pancreas seems to work overtime on some occasions, and not others. I see a doctor tomorrow and want to discuss LADA, but want to go in knowing a little more if possible.

Thanks!

[mazea]

I was diagnosed with Type 1 last year,( LADA) as I was diagnosed at 30, didn't go into ketoacidosis, had a HBAC1 of 20 on diagnosis and still had some insulin production bur a low c petptide.
I had symptoms up to 6 years before being diagnosed with LADA. The symptoms I had 6 years before being diagnosed were having accidents with not being able to hold on for the bathroom to pee especially after meals, having had dizzy spells like hypos, feeling sick if I missed a meal. I also had a borderline fasting test 2 years before I was diagnosed, but the doctor didn't say anything about it.
If you have LADA, I don't recommend doing a fasting test, they will not pick it up like other diabetes as basal insulin will often be good and it will not pick up post meal blood sugar readings. The best test is probably a blood glucose test meter 2 hours after meals I think or a c peptide test. At later stages a HBAC1 will pick up the LADA as is probably a good idea too.

[angelsbridges]

What would one need to watch for if doing the bg test meter two hours after eating?

Sometimes I am lower than pre-prandial 2 hours after, and sometimes I'm between 100-150, depending on the day.

My fasting tests are in the prediabetic range, as was my OGTT (although I had a reactive hypo episode). The symptoms of Type II and LADA seem so similar, but I know the pancreas doesn't act the same. No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to find what to watch for if trying to determine LADA or Type II.

[mazea]

There was a graph on some teenagers and their blood sugars after meals. I recall the teenagers blood sugars normally go up to about 180 or 216(12mmol) at about 50 minutes after a meal. But 2 hours after a meal, your blood sugars should normally drop to under 7(126).

My husband is prediabetic type 2(controlled by diet not medication) and his blood sugars (for eating under 75g carbs) are always under 7mmol (126) at 2 hours after a meal. So your blood sugars should be better than my husbands.

LADA or type 2 can be determined with a C Peptide test. If C peptide is low, it will indicate Type 1 or Lada. I have low c peptide, therefore LADA. If the C peptide is high it indicates type 2. Antibodies test will also show LADA, but some people like me had a negative antibody test.

I was underweight at diagnosis, another indicator of lada.

[angelsbridges]

They typically are under 120 two hours later. I've only had it higher than that three times since I started testing a month ago.

The dietitian mentioned LADA to me, but she didn't tell me anything other than that. She was very confused though at how I would be prediabetic for type II.

Would an A1C help with this at all? Is there another test I can ask for to rule out 1.5? Sorry to ask so many questions!

[mazea]

That's ok.
I think a c peptide test, which shows the level of insulin production would be good for you to get. It's always good idea to have a HBAC1 if you are prediabetic (LADA or type 2) Keep a record of your HBAC1 so you can monitor the progress of the diabetes.

My husbands HBAC1 was borderline and he has type 2 prediabetes. If your HBAC1 is borderline, it could be good to go count and limit your carbohydrate intake per meal. Don't eat whole pizzas and get slight kidney damage like I did.

High readings occasionally could just mean you ate a lot of carbs for that meal.

How old are you?

[angelsbridges]

what is HBAC1? Would my clinic do that test, or is it one I have to purchase elsewhere?
*edit* Nevermind, it's an A1C, right?

[mazea]

Yes that's right. AC1. They call them HBAC1's in Australia.

[angelsbridges]

Thank you for your help.

I'm starting to think this has been going on for two years now, so I'm sort of worried and want to figure it out as soon as I can. In the last two years, I've had two bouts of weight loss, and it was a struggle to gain weight after each one (until this last year, and it took a while, but I gained about 35 pounds and now am at a healthy weight). Hopefully a new doctor will help me figure it out!

Thanks again! :)

[mazea]

You could also get an antibody test for the diabetes type 1 antibodies. If it is positive it will rule out type 2. If you are older than 25 with positive antibodies, LADA is likely.

[angelsbridges]

Hopefully the doctor I see tomorrow will know more about it than my last doctor. Hearing people's stories about ending up in the hospital before they know what's going on really scares me.

[lilituc]

I was diagnosed as prediabetic at first - it does refer to Type 2. The problem is that not much seems to be known about the development of Type 1, so they don't really have a name for what happens before diagnosis. I stayed at prediabetic levels (most of the time) for about six months before I was diagnosed diabetic (Type 2, which ended up being wrong).

[EeyoreButterfly]

There was a graph on some teenagers and their blood sugars after meals. I recall the teenagers blood sugars normally go up to about 180 or 216(12mmol) at about 50 minutes after a meal. But 2 hours after a meal, your blood sugars should normally drop to under 7(126).

My husband is prediabetic type 2(controlled by diet not medication) and his blood sugars (for eating under 75g carbs) are always under 7mmol (126) at 2 hours after a meal. So your blood sugars should be better than my husbands.

LADA or type 2 can be determined with a C Peptide test. If C peptide is low, it will indicate Type 1 or Lada. I have low c peptide, therefore LADA. If the C peptide is high it indicates type 2. Antibodies test will also show LADA, but some people like me had a negative antibody test.

I was underweight at diagnosis, another indicator of lada.


That's really interested. I have started testing at the one and two hour mark because I realized I was totally missing the spikes. For instance, I tested today 1 hour after lunch and was at 205, at the two hour mark I was 115. That happens to me frequently.

[angelsbridges]

I don't test at the one hour mark :(

Only at the two hour. If I get a Rx tomorrow, I will probably test more often than I am.

I've been hanging around 115 at the 2/3 hour mark today.

Maybe it is type II. I just wish I could get a difinitive answer.

Could mono have triggered something? I keep reading about people getting sick and then starting symptoms of diabetes.

[mortis505]

From diabetesnet.com


Type 1.5 is one of several names now applied to those who are diagnosed with diabetes as adults, but who do not immediately require insulin for treatment, are often not overweight, and have little or no resistance to insulin. When special lab tests are done, they are found to have antibodies, especially GAD65 antibodies, that attack their beta cells.

About 15% to 20% of people diagnosed as "Type 2" actually have this type. They are often diagnosed as Type 2 because they are older and will initially respond to diabetes medications because they have adequate insulin production. The treatment the person is first put on may be diet, exercise, and standard Type 2 medications.

Since insulin resistance is minimal or non-existent, medications designed to reduce insulin resistance such as Avandia and Actos are not effective. Other meds that stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin, slow digestion of carbs, or reduce excess glucose production by the liver are often effective in controlling the blood sugar for a few years.

As insulin production falls, insulin becomes necessary to maintain control. One clue that people have Type 1.5 rather than Type 2 is their appearance, which is more likely though not always slender and physically fit. They often do not have other signs of Type 2 diabetes, such as the Syndrome X cluster of high TGs, low HDL or high blood pressure. Luckily, in these early stages, diabetes treatment is not significantly different for slow-onset Type 1s compared to truly insulin-resistant Type 2s. The only exception is that drugs designed to increase insulin sensitivity like the glitazones do not work because insulin sensitivity is normal.

One major benefit to this type is that when their blood sugars are controlled, people with Type 1.5 usually do not have the high risk for heart problems more often found with the high cholesterol and blood pressure seen in true Type 2 diabetes.

[dbc]

Maybe it is type II. I just wish I could get a difinitive answer.

Could mono have triggered something? I keep reading about people getting sick and then starting symptoms of diabetes.

I was misdiagnosed T2 & 6 months later T1 after GAD antibody tests. Absolutely no symptoms at all (picked up by an alert GP during a routine physical exam). First 18 months controlled bs by diet change, then metformin, now MDI/metformin/diet/exercise.

Don't stress (at least not too much :) ) Seems to me you're doing all the right things for now. Diabetes progression is normally a slow business, so you have time on your side, especially as you are already aware of things. I understand the frustration at not knowing the details, but knowing/not knowing the details is secondary to actively dealing with the D, which you are already doing. The detail will be filled in later.

As regards what caused/triggered it: As many theories as there are people, I think :confused: ! In my case pretty much everyone agrees it was probably stress - about 5 years worth of work & personal stuff :eek: Can also be the stress of an illness. . .

[Subby]

That's really interested. I have started testing at the one and two hour mark because I realized I was totally missing the spikes. For instance, I tested today 1 hour after lunch and was at 205, at the two hour mark I was 115. That happens to me frequently.

A spike at the one hour mark is typical for non-diabetics, followed by a rapid descent back to normal levels. Check out this graph of a study of non-diabetics:

The meal is eaten at 7:30 (solid black line)
The average BG is the blue line.
The standard deviation (the range of results) are the two brown lines.


Blood sugar trend in non-diabetics (http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/pics/164224951NormalBGGraphs.jpg)

This is from the bloodsigar101 site which you can google: it's in the second item down on the left - "What is a normal blood sugar?"

When you take a 2 hour test, it is checking that you did indeed return from this initial spike, or how far you did, the importance being that's when you can test and be confident it's an indication things have not returned to normal. The one hour test, while it can inform on the dimensions of that spike, is "during the initial battle" so to speak - you primarily want to see the aftermath!

That's doesn't negate the use of 1 hour testing, and 2, 3 even 4 hour, to get a picture of your trends rather than just a single figure that doesn't inform of what direction things are going. And, for foods that do cause a longer spike, but your BG returns downwards a little later.

But, the one hour is special, quite a bit of spiking is expected.

[angelsbridges]

well, the doc I saw didn't even know what LADA/Type 1.5 was.

She ordered some autoimmune tests (I think RA and Lupus?). She said she didn't feel comfortable ordering labs about something she had no clue what it was, and to talk to the endo in June.

She also mentioned seeing a urologist because of how much I urinate. Meep.

[mazea]

I would find another one as he hasn't ordered an antibody to insulin test yet. It's a basic test that should be done for all diabetics that might be type 1. I had a test for antibodies when I was diagnosed.

I wouldn't worry about your doc not knowing about LADA. Some are so behind in there diabetes knowledge and it is common that this happens.

Interestingly, they are discovering new antibodies all the time. Discovery of new antibody that helps detect type 1 diabetes (http://www.news-medical.net/?id=31335)

If I were you, I would go to a new doctor and request a cpeptide test, an insulin antibody test, and a HBAC1.

[Ategeler]

So sorry I missed this post before seeing the doc. However, a positive GAD 65 Antibody Test would be Type 1.5 not Type 2. Or C-peptide can give them indicators as well. An HBA1C won't really differentiate. It is the antibodies/cpeptide that are telltale b/w Type 1 vs.Type 2.

An endocrinologist would have a much better understanding of the specific tests associated with diabetes.

Type 1.5 is not recognized in the medical arena as much as 1 and 2. Sorry your doctor couldn't be more helpful.

I went through a similar experience, although I was labeled gestational diabetic. The perinatologist kept saying it was more Type 2 while my Endocrinoligist did the antibody test and found Type 1.5. It can be frustrating trying to get a clear cut answer! Hang in there!

[angelsbridges]

she ordered a c-reactive protein test and a test for RA, and both came back negative.

I'm slightly irritated because I have a history of depression issues, but have been completely depression free for almost two years (something very big happened in my life, and for some reason, everything in my head just clicked, and I haven't had any depression since then). But of course the doctor looked in the file and brought it up, and asked if I was seeing anyone and taking medication, I told her no, that I've been great, and I saw a psychiatrist almost 2 years ago that told me I was either in depression remission, or was "cured" of it. She said that was weird and she didn't buy it. So she told me to see a therapist and psychiatrist because she doesn't think they'd just "let me stop going". Why the heck would I see one if I'm fine? I don't get doctors sometimes...I think she's just trying to blame something instead of finding the real reason why I'm freaking sick all the time.

[Ategeler]

I don't think that either one of those tests designates autoimmune diabetes.

It is unfortunate when doctor's don't take their patient's concerns more seriously. Maybe you should seek a second opinion?

[angelsbridges]

Sadly enough, she was a second opinion. I went to her because she was a.) younger, and b.) sent quite a few referrals to the dietitian I saw for diabetes/prediabetes.

I don't know what to do at this point other than wait for the endo in June. This doc also gave me the impression that I shouldn't be testing. She also said there was nothing in my 5 hour OGTT that would indicate anything diabetes-related...and actually stated that my fbs that initially gave me the diagnosis of prediabetes could have been a fluke, since the fbs on my OGTT was normal range.

She also didn't understand what use a 5 hour OGTT was and said she only orders two hour ones.

These were my results for OGTT -in parenthesis I put what my meter read, if it was different.
GLUCOSE, FASTING 88 (same)
GLUCOSE, 1 HOUR 186 (245)
GLUCOSE, 2 HOUR 135 (167)
GLUCOSE, 3 HOUR 103 (I didn't test this hour)
GLUCOSE, 4 HOUR 68 (70)
GLUCOSE, 5 HOUR 77 (65)

So who knows. All I know is that I'm tired of feeling like this, and if it's related to diabetes at all, I want to know so I can fix it and feel better and get rid of all the little problems.

She also told me to start doing Kegler exercises, which is apparently for urinary incontinence -while I told her I don't have any "leakage" (as she put it), I just pee every hour/half hour, I can hold it longer if I haven't eaten, but once it gets after breakfast, it starts, and gets worse after lunch and dinner.

[mazea]

No offence, but if I were you I would get a third opinion and be assertive about asking for the GAD antibody test. While doctors sometimes don't know much about diabetes, you are the person in the end that is ultimately responsible for your health. And keep reading of your blood glucose monitor 2 hours after meals.

[angelsbridges]

The problem is finding a doctor who KNOWS what a GAD antibody test is. The only person I have run into at the clinic that knows what LADA is is the dietitian.

Maybe I'll have to send her another message and ask if she knows docs who specifically deal with LADA, although I doubt there are any outside of the endo.

My first doctor made me...mad? I guess, and didn't listen. But this one listened, and then made me feel like **** by insinuating that there is no problem, and then told me to go see a therapist. I don't know if I can handle a third doctor doing anything on the same lines, I might just give up on health care! Haha.

[mazea]

Look don't mention LADA. My endocrinologist diagnosed me with type 1. I know I'm LADA, but it isn't largely recognised in the medical community. Get tested for type 1 Make sure you get a GAD antibody test.

Copy and paste the antibody test part and print it out so you can give to your doctor.
Latent autoimmune diabetes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latent_autoimmune_diabetes)

[angelsbridges]

Ok....that makes more sense.

Thank you!

[mazea]

Good luck with it!:)

[angelsbridges]

Gracias again. That will really help to know what to ask for in terms that they will most likely understand.

I suppose I was a bit confused that she said there wasn't anything diabetes-related in my OGTT results, I thought it wasn't normal for people to go higher than 140 post-prandial in general. Maybe that's not right, but I don't know.

I had some white rice with dinner tonight and went up to 180, so I suppose I shouldn't do that anymore. Although I am very glad I'm not in the 200 range, I think that would make me nervous, ha. That was after an hour, and I usually only test at 2 hours since i know that's more important.

How high is "normal" for people to go after they eat a high-carb meal (like white rice)? I seem to get different answers every where I look.

[angelsbridges]

Freaking forget white rice, I'm still at 180 2 hours later.

[foxl]

Ever tried Basmati? It is supposed to have a lower glycemic index.

I am waiting for a few months before I try ANY rice however ... for one thing portion control is too hard for me.

[angelsbridges]

I ate about half a cup of cooked rice.

I haven't tried basmati, but I have a vegan friend who eats it. My mom makes quinoa, and I like that, but I haven't learned how to cook it. I should probably start learning :)

[mortis505]

In subjects without diabetes,
blood glucose levels typically peak approximately 1
hour after the start of a meal and return to preprandial levels
within 2 to 3 hours; 2-hour postprandial blood glucose
levels rarely exceed 140 mg/dL (39,40). Therefore, the
consensus panel recommends a treatment-targeted 2-hour
postprandial blood glucose level of <140 mg/dL.

This is from the AACE

[mazea]

I doubt that your pre-diabetic with 2 hour readings like that if you had under 2 cups of rice. If you had sweet and sour sauce with 2 cups of rice then maybe. Did you eat anything with the rice? My DH is pre-diabetic type 2 and his readings are much better. On the other hand you aren't afull type 1/1.5 either. It sounds to me like your diabetes is either slowly developing type 1 or type 2, but I am not a doctor, and you really need to get that GAD antibody test.

Oh you said 1/2 cup, which is about 15g carbs. I don't mean to alarm you but I'd be getting into the doctor really quick for the GAD test then. That sounds a bit more like type 1 than type 2 to me.

[EeyoreButterfly]

I did as suggested and googled "normal blood sugar". Found the Blood Sugar 101 site that everybody raves about and it was very adamant that you should not go above 140 at any time. Even though people without diabetes do peak at one hour and then come down, they are not going above that number (they don't even get that high). That tells me that my spikes of up to 280 and your OGTT spike of 180 are definitely not normal, even if we were in "normal" range at the two hour mark.

[angelsbridges]

I had a little bit of lemon sauce as well, so maybe that's what did it?

This gets so frustrating! Sometimes I can eat this and I'll be fine after, but other times it goes up. I wish it were consistent, it would surely help deter me from eating "bad" things, haha.

[mortis505]

From the wiki articleon LADA.

LADA often does not require insulin at the time of diagnosis and may even be managed with changes in lifestyle in its early stages. However, some clinicians believe that insulin should be started at onset or as soon as possible, rather than using sulfonylureas or other diabetes pills for initial treatment. It is not clear whether early insulin therapy is of benefit to the remaining beta islet cells.[1][7]

Initially, a person with LADA may respond to oral diabetes medications and lifestyle changes, but beta cells continue to be destroyed and LADA patients should be closely monitored. Some studies have demonstrated that the use of sulfonylureas and the insulin-sensitizing drug metformin, may increase the risk of severe metabolic disorder in persons with LADA. Once blood glucose can no longer be managed through lifestyle and medications, daily insulin injections will be required.

80% of persons initially diagnosed with type 2 but test positive for GAD (an indication of LADA). progress to insulin dependency within 6 years. But those who test positive for both GAD and IA2 will progress more rapidly to insulin dependence.

On a side note GAD will not always be present in 1.5/LADA.

[Ohana]

80% of persons initially diagnosed with type 2 but test positive for GAD (an indication of LADA). progress to insulin dependency within 6 years. But those who test positive for both GAD and IA2 will progress more rapidly to insulin dependence.

On a side note GAD will not always be present in 1.5/LADA.

Thats my Dr.... I have neg GAD antibodies, and he is still adamant that I am developing type 1.

Oh, but I have recently decided to get a second opinion since he recently changed me from insulin that worked fine at very small doses and cost $30 for a 4 month supply to a pill that sometimes works and cost $90 for a month supply..... :mad:

Sorry, small rant...

AB... I am like you.. sometimes I can eat "bad food" and be fine, other time I eat the same "bad food" and am NOT fine :)

[angelsbridges]

I'm starting to get the impression that no one cares in the clinic I go to unless labs say something.

I don't know if she was actually listening to me or not, like how I brought up the sinus infection I've had for about 3 months, did two rounds of antibiotics, and then she checked me out, said I did have a sinus infection, but then didn't say to do anything about it other than get a Netti-Pot. It's moving into my chest and I'm coughing now, I hate this stage so bad.

[EeyoreButterfly]

AB: I am like you as well in tha I can eat food one day and be fine and the next day be well over 200. Maddening, isn't it?

[foxl]

OHANA I LOVE your siggy poster!!!

[angelsbridges]

Just for clarifications sake - if I go see another doc, do I just need to ask to be tested for Type I diabetes?

PS - my bs was finally down to 85 4.5 hours after eating, ha.

[Ohana]

OHANA I LOVE your siggy poster!!!

:D I have a whole collection. I just rotate them out.

[EsMom]

Hi angelsbridges -

I'm just catching up on this thread and your story sounds

[EsMom]

Sorry - got finger happy and posted before i finished typing!

Your story stounds EXACTLY like mine! I was initially diagnosed is "pre-diabetic" but the numbers started to climb and I would often be in the mid-200 range 2 hours after meals. Long story short I ended up at good endo and was officially diagnosed from a 200 random glucose test (it was about 2 hours after I had eaten). In the beginning and even sometimes now, I could eat a meal and I would be high 2 hours later and the next day could eat exactly the same meal and would be 100 two hours later. It's so incredibly frustrating.

How is everything now?

[angelsbridges]

Which type did you end up being diagnosed with?

I'm still a bit off, I ate some bbq bonless chicken wings last night (just a bit of sauce!) and 2 breadsticks (I know I'm horrible), and 3.5 hours later I was at 117. I sort of deserved that though, haha.

What bothers me about have the fluctuations is that if I go to the doctor and they test, it depends on the day as to what results they'll get, which I don't think helps lead to a correct diagnosis (if there is one to be made). I'm hoping the Endo in June will be helpful. He specializes in diabetes, and when I used to work for the company, I was told he was great and high demand. So I'm hoping for the best.

[angelsbridges]

Will an ANA screen rule out 1.5?

She ran an ANA screen and I'm negative, but I'm not sure what that covers.

[EsMom]

The ended up diagnosing me with Type 2 but my endo still questions it even though I was negative for GAD and Islet cell antibodies both. I also had a low to normal c-peptide but my simulatenous BG was 76 at the time so it was relatively normal for a BG of 76. But he thinks it's so odd because I'm young (31) and slender and no family history.

When i finally went to him (he was my 2nd endo but overall 3rd opinino), the random they took was right at 200 so it just happened to be a day that i was running on the high side - luckily almost.

I'm hopeful this endo you see in June will help you sort through it - I know how frustrating it is, because I was in the same boat.

Oh, an another reason they diagnosed me as an atypical Type 2 is that metformin was working. At my 6 week f/u from being on 1000 mg of Metformin my numbers were great. But guess what? Right after that appt they start to rise again on the same number of carbs so I've had to cut back big time. I don't want to increase the Met yet as I had all the horrible GI side effects. So my endo will be interested to see that the dose of Metformin I'm on is becoming less effective.

Anyway...enough about me! : ) Keep us posted. Oh...and I'm not familiar with the ANA screen - what is that?

[angelsbridges]

It's an Anti-Nuclear Antibody screen...I think she was using it to check for Lupus, but I am unclear - it says it can show type I diabetes? I think?

ANAs are found in patients with a number of different autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, scleroderma, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, juvenile diabetes mellitus, Addison disease, vitiligo, pernicious anemia, glomerulonephritis, and pulmonary fibrosis. ANAs can also be found in patients with conditions that are not considered classic autoimmune diseases, such as chronic infections and cancer.

[Ategeler]

How close are you to Rochester, MI? The Mayo Clinic is there and I believe they have a Diabetic Center. I am sure if you went there, you would get a wealth of information. It may take a while to get an appt.

[Jan B]

It's an Anti-Nuclear Antibody screen...I think she was using it to check for Lupus, but I am unclear - it says it can show type I diabetes? I think?

Bridgette,

My ANA has been high for quite some time. And it gets higher as I age. Sometimes diabetics are a little higher, and if you have more than one autoimmune disease, you could be even higher. Also, different labs assign different meaning to the numbers (thanks a lot!). Several years ago I was 1:40 (normal), then 1:80, then 1:160, and the last one, I was 1:320. To make it even more irritating, I was never given a good answer for any of it (since my RA factor was negative; you can still have RA even being negative) -- I did my own research.

I have RA, OA and used to worry about Lupus too. I had a lot of muscular pain and spasms. I was driving myself nuts trying to figure it all out.

I swear I feel so much better now not even thinking about it!! I'll admit I'll be ticked if I'm 1:640 next time!

[angelsbridges]

I didn't get any numbers, it just said "NEG" next to my results.

I was dx with fibromyalgia in my late teens, but my bloodwork all seems fine. They tested for RA too, and that came back negative.

Even if you have an autoimmune, will it always show up in an ANA screen?

[lorilei]

6/07 Hba1c 8.2, + Gad65, -IA2, -IA, below norm cpeptide, and low norm insulin prod...obviously these all changed by Nov 2008...was this what u were looking for? I was not dx prediabetic, but was misdiagnosed (more than likely) gestational diabetes and on insulin for last preganancy which ended late march 2007...

as for the rest of the autoimmune stuff, i have absolutely no idea...sorry :)

[angelsbridges]

It's ok, I just wanted to see if the autoimmune stuff would correlate at all.

I'm going to hold out for the endo, but it will be helpful to take that list of tests to him :)

[Jan B]

Even if you have an autoimmune, will it always show up in an ANA screen?

No. I remember spending so many hours trying to understand all that stuff. I did learn one thing that was valuable to me. The connective tissue of diabetics can harden over time, which can cause a lot of pain (even some Lupus symptoms), and possibly give a higher than average ANA result. That actually answered a lot of my questions . . . and never once did a doctor mention this to me!

All that mess didn't start with me until I'd had T1 for about 25 years. In the time since I joined DF, most of that pain has subsided (I have good A1cs now too). I am a firm believer in the mind/body connection. Be happy, share w/friends, have fun . . . and the body does not hurt so much! That's just my opinion. ;)

[angelsbridges]

I am a firm believer in the mind/body connection
Me too, me too. It's actually amazing what you can do when they're in tune with one another. Doesn't always stop forms of pain, but it definitely helps!

[Jan B]

Me too, me too. It's actually amazing what you can do when they're in tune with one another. Doesn't always stop forms of pain, but it definitely helps!

Good point. If you are in the midst of pain, it's hard to "get happy and feel better". But, if you generally try to have some fun & be with friends on a regular basis (instead of being alone in pain), you can get yourself above it . . . and sometimes prevent more pain. I'm gonna believe it anyway!