This strange disease...

[dbc]

Anyone out there like this?

I'm type 1/1.5/LADA, or whatever label fits, just been for my 3-month checkup. Was initially diagnosed T2 last year, revised to T1 January this year on the basis of antibody tests, no medication initially as my A1c was 6.4%. April A1c was 6.5%, endo suggested trying Metformin as he felt it too early to go on to insulin. 3 months of Metformin & my A1c is now 6%!!

I am if anything slightly underweight, so unlikely to have insulin resistance, so the Metformin is inhibiting the liver from dumping glucose into the bloodstream. Endo is puzzled, regards my case as a "challenge", but for the moment says to stay on Metformin while it works.

I follow a low carb diet and run/jog about 15-20km a week - maybe that's got something to do with the way things are going, but this sure is a strange disease!

[MarkMunday]

dbc,

What gets measured gets managed. The reduction in your HBA1c is probably the result of monitoring your blood sugars, low-carbing and exercise. Your pancreas is obviously still producing lots of insulin. You want it to stay that way for as long as possible. And the only way to do that is to lighten the load on your beta cells.

If you test your blood sugar after meals, you will probably find that it spikes about an hour after eating. During the rest of the day, endogenous insulin probably keeps your blood sugar in the target range. Hence your loa HBA1c. You can reduce the stress on your beta cells by supplementing insulin when your blood sugar spikes. So the best course of action is to inject small amounts of quick acting insulin before meals.

This will prolong the life of your beta cells. Which, believe me, is worth the effort. Test these ideas out with your endo. I am sure he will agree with them.

My 17 year old daughter, who was diagnosed t1 in November last year, is on the regimen I outlined. And she is doing exceptionally well on it.

Cheers,

Mark

PS - and keep the low-carbing!

[rzrbks]

Although my original diagnoses was T2, the Dr. put me on insulin right away.

The hope was that by using insulin to supplement the pancreas, I'd be better longer---too late

BUt then I'd rather be on insulin than the alternative.