[SPLODGE]

Hi,

I was diagnosed with Type 2 12 months ago. I was 34 and 170 lbs. I do not have high choloesterol or high blood pressure. Already been Hypthyroid for 10 years (at least it was 10 years since I was diagnosed).

My Endo refused to test me for 1.5 claiming it doesn't exist and the only reason I have Type 2 is my weight. It really irks me as I know many people with much unhealthier lifestyles who do not have Diabetes.

Is there a connection between the 2 diseases? Does anyone diagnosed as 1.5 have both? How did you manage to persuade them to test you?

I always have high numbers in the morning avg 150mg/dl despite not eating after my evening meal (with METFORMIN) at approx 5-6pm.

Its not that I totally diagree with the diagnosis, just that I don't feel it has been fully investigated.

Kate

[mortis505]

If your Doctor wont give you the tests you want, get a new doctor. Its your body, not his/hers. Symptoms for T 1.5 L.A.D.A. are similar in nature to T1.

"Typical patients are positive for GAD antibodies, 35 years of age or older, nonobese, and present without ketoacidosis and weight loss. Although many maintain good glycemic control for several years with sulfonylureas, these patients become "insulin dependent" more rapidly than antibody-negative type 2 diabetic patients"

"LADA is often mistaken for type 2 diabetes because onset is typically over the ages of 25-30 years old and the initial presentation mimics type 2 symptoms. Type 1 diabetes (formerly called Juvenile diabetes, childhood diabetes, or, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) is more commonly diagnosed in childhood or under the age of 25, however, LADA bears striking similiarity with the juvenile form of type 1.

Since LADA can be mistaken for non-obesity related type 2 diabetes, adults, especially those who are thin or normal weight, should be tested for LADA antibodies to rule out type 2 diabetes. Other characteristics of LADA that may aid in differential diagnosis include:

* onset usually at 25 years of age or older
* initially mimics non-obese type 2 diabetes
* HLA genes
* lack of family history of type 2 diabetes
* tests positive for LADA antibodies
* low C-peptide levels
* is not insulin resistant

Note: Persons with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are usually insulin resistant.

Common Markers - GAD(GAD65-AAGAD) - very often and more common than in the juvenile form. 80% of persons initially diagnosed with type 2 but test positive for GAD progress to insulin dependency within 6 years.(1)

HLA(human leukocyte antigen) - yes, often

ICA(islet cell antibodies) - positive helps differentiation between LADA and type 2.

IAA (insulin autoantibodies) - yes, often

IA2(islet antigen 2) - often (those with both GAD and IA2 progress more rapidly to insulin dependence)(1)

IgA(deficiency) - Higher incidence than seen in nondiabetic population

C-peptides - low

[David_S]

I had a vey low c peptide.. so I was not making insulin. Once I had insulin.. my cells could use it.. I take no type 2 meds. I was dx at age 37..so I am 1.5 and you call tell your Dr.. it is a diagnosis.. my endo gave it to me. My PCP had no clue about 1.5 and thought I was type 2 when he tested me in the office.. I was over 500.. and he gave me metformin which did nothing. The PCP had no clue and was confused that I was tall and thin with those numbers.. so med school graduates vary in their knowledge and expertise.. get a new one if you need to..

[HelenM]

It wasn't me that used the term but my doctor, I recently asked why because at the time I was so bewildered I hadn't even thought to ask.

"Typical patients are positive for GAD antibodies, 35 years of age or older, nonobese, and present without ketoacidosis and weight loss

I was quite different to this description. The only common factor was that I was over 35.


Reasons given: Presented with high ketones, high BS and weight loss : I was down to less than 50 kilos.
I gave history of symptoms over 3 year period and perhaps if I'd gone to the doctor in that period I would have been diagnosed as type 2.Actually I thought I was but refused to believe it so didn't go to a doctor.
When put on insulin in hospital to bring BS down, proved sensitive to insulin. They only did anti GAD and c peptide. The anit GAD was inconclusive. It was the low c peptide and lack of insulin resistance which formed the basis of diagnosis.
Whatever name you give it I can control my BS very well with insulin and exercise.

[lottadata]

I went through 7 years of being told I was a "typical" Type 2. However, I got down to a completely normal weight and despite eating a very low carb diet my blood sugar got worse.

When my doctor finally put me on Lantus, I started having dramatic symptoms on a dose of 6-8 units. It took a while to realize they WERE hypo symptoms that were provoking counterregulation attacks! I was actually sent to a cardiologist because of the pounding pulse I had for weeks. He wanted to put me on a beta blocker.

I started using R insulin and learned I had a normal carb/insulin ratio. That was when I realized I was insulin sensitive.

I read up about MODY and learned that I had the classic history: diagnosed with "prediabetes" on Oral Glucose Tolerance Test when I was 108 lbs in my 20s. Two gestational diabetes pregnancies starting from normal weight. And finally, I was extremely sensitive to Amaryl, a sulfonylurea drug. I was hypoing on a tiny chip of the 1 mg pill.

Until very recently it was believed that your mother or father had to have been diagnosed with diabetes for you to have MODY, which is why no one ever thought of it for me. But recent research found that not to be true. When they tested relatives of people who tested positive for MODY with gene tests, they found quite a few who carried the gene but had NOT been diagnosed with diabetes. Some just had pre-diabetes.

My dad ate low carb all my life, so if he had prediabetes it was controlled by that diet. His mom was a thin person with "adult onset diabetes." My daughter has abnormal post-meal blood sugars that are borderline "pre-diabetes" so I assume she has what I have. My son's blood sugar is completely normal. Interestingly, my son is very large and gains weight easily. My daugther is thin and very fit.

[lilituc]

For me it was a slow process because I didn't knwo that much about diabetes (just the standard info, which I guess we all find out later is wrong). I was underweight, eating 100-120 g of carbs a day, and exercising 2-3 hours a day at diagnosis. I had normal fasting and high postprandials (so the spikes were 100-200 pts). The first endo I saw told me I was a typical Type 2 and to eat 180 g of carbs a day and exercise 30 minutes three times a day to "treat" it (anyone see the problem there). He said anything under 300 was "excellent" and didn't need medication.

Almost a year later, I was eating 5-10 g of carbs a day, exercising four hours a day, and my bg was still going up. Endo #1 still refused to provide medication. Finally, despite being pretty sick, I figured out he was a quack and got a new endo.

I'd have to say that discovering I could completely control my bg on 5-10 units/day when I went on insulin was a big clue.

[grace girl]

Nothing made me think I was type 1 (or 1.5)...I didn't even know it was possible for an adult to get type 1.
I'd been dx'ed type 2 a year and a half before (also over-weight) and went to a new doctor because of insurance and he was the one who suggested it. By that time I was no longer overweight...D had taken care of that.
When the test results came back type 1, I was very shocked, but also relieved. I knew why I was so sick all the time and why the type 2 treatment wasn't working.
I personally think any doctor who won't do the tests isn't worth dealing with. It's your body and you have a right to know.