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zoelula
04-25-2009, 01:12 AM
I was just reading a book on diabetes I have that caused me to wonder and then I came in and started reading about Type 1.5 which I'd never heard of before.

I had posted in another thread wondering if my no longer having a thyroid was what was making my diabetes so hard to manage. What I've read everywhere seems to be saying if my thyroid levels are stable( they are) there should be no problem.

So, let me try and summarize my experience. I am 60 years old and was diagnosed Type II in July, 2007. I seemed to fit the profile: age, family history and at the time I was overweight. I was losing weight when diagnosed and continued to do so (40 lbs). I discovered the diabetes had made my thyroid meds to high a dose and now it's stable.

I managed with diet and oral meds for about a year (I just read that Type 1 can have a "honeymoon period" of about that). Then my numbers began slowly and steadily climbing. In February I started Lantus. I had some lows and still had peaks after eating. My doctor tried Apidra short-acting and I had a dangerous low (I live alone). I am now on Glucobay and Lantus. He is working the dose up to optimal so there is no stability as yet. I'm hesitant to say I eat healthy because that started a major debate in the other thread...but I eat healthy, though I'm sure I can fine tune.

So, could the varying numbers and difficulty stabilizing (as well as short period before I became insulin deficient) mean I am Type 1.5? I am reading that there are tests. In my book (which is a few years old so only mentioned Types 1 and 2) it said the antibody tests are only valid soon after diagnosis. Are there tests that I could take now, close to two years later?
Wow! An explanation would be nice!

BlueSky
04-25-2009, 01:30 AM
Antibody tests would still be positive after two years. There might not be any antibodies 20+ years after diagnosis. You could also have a c-peptide test done. It shows how much insulin you are producing.

zoelula
04-25-2009, 08:59 AM
Thanks Blue Sky. I just got the name of an endocrinologist and am going to schedule an appointment.

It's funny but I was looking for an answer as to why my diabetes is hard to manage and this is what I'm wondering about (being Type 1.5). Is this an answer for why my diabetes is hard to manage? I was put on Insulin just thinking my Type II had progressed quite rapidly. Is there a different treatment to be followed if I am indeed Type 1.5? Is that why I'm not getting better? I'm going to go back and read all the posts in this thread and also other info on 1.5. Thank you for your help.
Zoe

DCaplinger
04-26-2009, 02:57 PM
zoe:

Some LADA's (also known as Type 1.5's) can manage for a while on medication and a bit of insulin. Others, like myself, are totally insulin dependent almost from the word go.

Progression varies by person. As we are fond of saying around here... YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).

Regards,

D