[Jazz]

I was diagnosed as diabetic in November 2005 at the age of 44. The first symptom that I remember experiencing was slight blurry vision as I arrived home from holiday at the beginning of September 2005 and just thought it was jet lag and didn't realise at that time that blurry vision was a symptom of diabetes. As the weeks went on I began to experience all the other classic symptoms and became suspicious enough to buy a home test kit which produced a high reading. I then saw my GP and was admitted to hospital that day and placed on an insulin drip. I am trying to understand what caused the onset - I was stung by a jellyfish on my back, a couple of days before the end of my holiday and have wondered whether this incident was the trigger. I have no knowledge of anyone in my family having diabetes, although my father and his mother died of a heart attack at young ages and I did have a random blood test during my second pregnancy (20 years ago) which showed a mildly raised figure, but my GP at that time dismissed it as a normal part of late pregnancy and it was never followed up. The medical team that treated me in November said that I did not fit neatly into either Type 1 (because of my age) or Type 2 (because I am very active and not overweight). My consultant ran a number of tests, one of which showed that I had anti-bodies to GAD - but only weakly so. I am very sensitive to insulin and am taking very low doses (3 or 4 units at meals) of Novorapid and (4 units) of Levemir at bedtime. I would love to hear diagnosis experiences of other members who have been diagnosed in their 30's or 40's to see if their experiences have any similarities and I also wonder how long the honeymoon period lasts for this age group.
Best Wishes
Jazz

[dbc]

Hi, welcome to the club - I was misdiagnosed T2 at the age of 52 during a routine general checkup - I had no symptoms at all. Later diagnosed T1/LADA on the basis of GAD antibody tests. Two years later I am still on honeymoon, still not necessary to use insulin, although the Dr has got me on metformin. The only diabetic symptom I have experienced was bad vision resulting from a cortico-steroid injection to control hayfever (that my GP should have known better than to give me....). I follow a fairly strict low carb diet to reduce the load on my beta cells.

How long will this last? who knows - the Dr isn't prepared to make any forecasts. I get the impression from posts on this forum that T1.5/LADA is even less well understood than "standard" T1/T2 (and I not sure if there is such a thing as "standard" diabetes, everyones experience seems to be different!)

So read, learn, ask, test & figure out what your own version of diabetes is all about. There are many different experiences listed here, some of which will be applicable to your situation, some won't, but there's a lot of wisdom to get from here.

go well

Dave

[dbc]

Forgot to say - like you, no history of diabetes (T1 or T2) in my family, I was also not overweight and reasonably fit. No specific illness anywhere around the time of diagnosis, although I had just come through a 3-4 year period of prolonged stress.

Sometimes life is not fair!

[Simon]

I do have other LADA's in my family. I don't think there was any trigger as such with such a slow onset and being so sensitive to insulin my beta cell were probably in decline for many years before I was diagnosed. I went to the doctor after about a year of shrugging off symptoms. Now I'm on 6 units of Lantus and 1 unit of Novorapid to 25g carb.

[rzrbks]

Jazz

I was diagnosed as diabetic in November 2005 at the age of 44. The first symptom that I remember experiencing was slight blurry vision as I arrived home from holiday at the beginning of September 2005 and just thought it was jet lag and didn't realise at that time that blurry vision was a symptom of diabetes. As the weeks went on I began to experience all the other classic symptoms and became suspicious enough to buy a home test kit which produced a high reading. I then saw my GP and was admitted to hospital that day and placed on an insulin drip. I am trying to understand what caused the onset - I was stung by a jellyfish on my back, a couple of days before the end of my holiday and have wondered whether this incident was the trigger. I have no knowledge of anyone in my family having diabetes, although my father and his mother died of a heart attack at young ages and I did have a random blood test during my second pregnancy (20 years ago) which showed a mildly raised figure, but my GP at that time dismissed it as a normal part of late pregnancy and it was never followed up. The medical team that treated me in November said that I did not fit neatly into either Type 1 (because of my age) or Type 2 (because I am very active and not overweight).

'Couse you didn't ask for Diabetes, it was a Bonus.......

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/bonus?view=uk

3 an unexpected and welcome event.

— ORIGIN Latin, ‘good’.

I'm not so sure about the "Good" part or even the "welcome" part


perhaps this one is better
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionar...onary&va=bonus

something in addition to what is expected or strictly due

:


But your story sounds a great deal like mine, the Dr. thought T2, but the CDE went with T1.5 the instant she and I talked.

I got caught by the eye Dr.------which reminds me, it's time for The Yearly Visit which'll be more fun this year since my eye Dr. had gestational diabetes and has told my wife that she wants to trade "War Stories" about Diabetes

[stella117]

What a coincidence! I too was diagnosed in Nov. 05 with LADA. I turned 44 in January.

Unlike you, the blurriness was the last symptom to appear. I lost weight, was fatigued, incessantly thirsty, hungry and peeing all the time, leg cramps, hiar loss (stress) and more weight loss and finally blurriness. Like, get a clue--LOL!!!

The jellyfish incident had nothing to do with it. Most likely you had elevated glucose levels even before that. I know I had a non-fasting level of 229 in Aug. '04. Not realizing what normal numbers were, and not experiencing any symptoms of ill health, I didn't follow up on it.

I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia when I was 16 and the doctor told me then it would likely turn into diabetes. So that's how long it can stay "latent."

[HelenM]

I don't really know when it started but in 2001, when I was 48 (just in your age group!) I began to be more and more tired and stressed. Went to the GP who took it on face value and treated me for depression. Didn't want to go there, just wanted to get out of teaching. Husband able to retire early from RAF so we chucked it all in and came to France. Within 6 months had lost 3 stone and was thirsty etc. One half of me said well I'm working hard, no stress and its hot here and anyway I don't want to go to see a French doctor : the other half said you've got diabetes. Checked urine with pregnant daughters clinistix and confirmed it to myself (but no one else) I liked the new weight and the other symptoms were not always present so I was able to ignore them. Anyway I thought the first treatment for diabetes was diet and exercise. I ate reasonably healthilly and was certainly exercising.
Plodded along for 3 years like this until I began to lose more weight and began to look ill. On a bike ride I had to give up after only 2k, my breathing became rapid and shallow. Eventually went to doctor , fasting BS 360. I was sent straight to hospital where I stayed for 10 days. Results of antiGAD tests etc confirmed LADA.
Because of the length of time I'd had the illness without treatment they scanned/tested everything. It seems I was lucky (so far), Kidneys, heart, eyes etc OK.
So theres my story. It took at least 5 years to develop to insulin dependence and I feel that I still have some insulin production appearing to find control much easier than other fast onset type 1's on this board.
If UK doctor had checked me physically rather than dish out pills and sympathy I might still be teaching.

[Jazz]

Many thanks for all your replies - your individual experiences were very interesting and they lead me to think that perhaps my insulin production has been in decline for a very long time - the higher than normal reading in my second pregnancy 20 years ago was probably an indication that my pancreas did not cope well under stress. However, I have always been a sporty type and played league badminton for all these years - this probably helped to keep the bs down a little, but funnily enough I always used to wonder why I perspired so much more than any other player, even though I was just as skilled - perhaps it was something to do with the insulin decline. I also experienced a couple of hypoglycemic episodes in the last couple of years and realise now that this was also an indication of things to come.
I am learning to carbohydrate count and am trying to make wise food choices based on the glycemic index (The New Glucose Revolution 3rd Edition has been an extremely helpful book to me). I find that between injections I can have one or two small snacks of no more than 10g carb and manage to stay under 8mm/ls (but not in the evening). I'm on 4 units Levemir at bedtime and I use one unit Novorapid to 40g carb at breakfast and lunch but I need one unit Novorapid to 30g carb for my evening meal (I think this may be due to Levemir weakening in the evening. As Helen said in her previous post, I feel I also must have some insulin production of my own as I seem to be able to control the figures better than the Type 1 members of this forum. I would be very interested to hear of your experiences regarding your insulin requirements and blood sugar management so far.

[seacomp]

Originally Posted by Jazz

I'm on 4 units Levemir at bedtime and I use one unit Novorapid to 40g carb at breakfast and lunch but I need one unit Novorapid to 30g carb for my evening meal (I think this may be due to Levemir weakening in the evening.

Hello, I can't comment on the LADA aspects of your situation, but there is definately a problem with taking one only shot of Levemir. At best, it is advertised for 18 hour coverage. No wonder you have problems in the evening.
Were I you, I'd just go ahead and add another small shot in the morning and tell my doctor later, but you may want to consult first.
BTW, it is not necesary to have both shots equal, or 12 hours apart. My Lantus shots are at 8pm and 6am, for example.

[okchockeynut]

Hi,
I was diagnosed at 49 with HbA1c of 11 as Type 2 with symptoms: frequent urination, excessive thirst, blurred vision, loosing weight. I have never been over weight althought Type 2 runs on my mom's side as they age and gained weight. After 6 months of alternating pills and "starving myself" to get my BS down, I finally was diagnosed as Type 1 with GAD antibodies and put on low dose of 5 u of Lantus and pills at meals. I am up to 12 u of Lantus and still manage to keep my HbA1c under 7.
I had no illness or injuries before diagnosis. About 5 months before, my mom checked by BS on her meter and was totally normal. I am now 51 and so hate even the once-a-day shot and dread if I will ever require fast-acting.
I feel like I am being punished.
Cindy

[rzrbks]

I am now 51 and so hate even the once-a-day shot and dread if I will ever require fast-acting.
I feel like I am being punished.

I couldn't imagine what it's like trying to handle this juist on meds and diet------I'll take the injecting any day.

[Jazz]

Originally Posted by okchockeynut

Hi,
I was diagnosed at 49 with HbA1c of 11 as Type 2 with symptoms: frequent urination, excessive thirst, blurred vision, loosing weight. I have never been over weight althought Type 2 runs on my mom's side as they age and gained weight. After 6 months of alternating pills and "starving myself" to get my BS down, I finally was diagnosed as Type 1 with GAD antibodies and put on low dose of 5 u of Lantus and pills at meals. I am up to 12 u of Lantus and still manage to keep my HbA1c under 7.
I had no illness or injuries before diagnosis. About 5 months before, my mom checked by BS on her meter and was totally normal. I am now 51 and so hate even the once-a-day shot and dread if I will ever require fast-acting.
I feel like I am being punished.
Cindy

Hello Cindy

Many thanks for your reply - I do understand how you feel - I often wonder "Why me? What have I done to deserve this?" and also experience apprehension at what further problems I might have to face as insulin needs increase (hopefully, slowly with this type of diabetes!) However, I deal with one day at a time and I have so many blessings in my life that far outweigh these difficulties - so keep positive.
Jazz

[Jazz]

Originally Posted by seacomp

Hello, I can't comment on the LADA aspects of your situation, but there is definately a problem with taking one only shot of Levemir. At best, it is advertised for 18 hour coverage. No wonder you have problems in the evening.
Were I you, I'd just go ahead and add another small shot in the morning and tell my doctor later, but you may want to consult first.
BTW, it is not necesary to have both shots equal, or 12 hours apart. My Lantus shots are at 8pm and 6am, for example.

Seacomp
Many thanks for your practical advice - I am still feeling like a novice diabetic at present, so I will discuss splitting the Levemir dose with my doctor beforehand (although I don't like the thought of increasing to 5 injections per day!)
Jazz

[rea]

they diagnosed me last year with LADA.

originally, I was misdiagnosed with t2, then t1. who knows what I am, as long as there is a pill or insulin to help it.

I was diagnosed with diabetes when I became pregnant. I first was sick constantly, in and out of the hospital, with blood poisoning (from hitting my thumb), chronic pain, infections, etc. then I was told I was pregnant. apparently, the pregnancy made my diabetes so bad that someone finally noticed I had it.

I was a bit overweight at the time, but then, I had no diet knowledge, and ate massive carbs and sugar, and tried to drink like the rest of my alcoholic college friends. I was constantly in the bathroom, and very unhealthy. thats why they diagnosed me as type 2.
as I became pregnant, I started to loose mass amounts of weight. in fact, I gained about 5 lbs during my pregnancy, because I lost so much during it. I am normally, about a size 5-6, and after having my baby I was a size 3. I honeymooned for a bit, and then got to the point where I was jumping rope three times a day to control my blood sugar.
I was diagnosed as a MODY, and put on metformin, then back on insulin, then on actos as well, and suffered through IBS symptoms because of it. then suddenly my doctor sprang on me that I wasn't a MODY after all, that I was really a LADA, because I had no insulin resistance, I just didn't produce much at all, if any, any more.

the thing is, I have no clue how long I have had this, I can't pin point anything in my life to lead towards suddenly 'getting' it. but I can say that all through my childhood, I remember getting horrible symptoms of low blood sugars, and thinking it normal. It effected my life so much that I hated sports and gym class, and avoided it like the plague. no one ever checked me, to see what was wrong. I was always just the whiny crying child.

I do remember, though, that after my appendix ruptured when I was ten, that I gained a ton of weight afterward, until my body readjusted to not having one. the doctors told us that would happen though. I was a chubby kid for a year afterward, then either because of a growth spurt or whatever, became quite skinny again. but it was from then on that I remember getting the low blood sugars, after exercise, or first thing in the morning.

which surprises me that I am now diagnosed as a LADA, because it sounds more like I was a MODY, to me. but my doctor is quite determined that I am specifically a LADA after the c-peptide tests.

[Funnygrl]

I was far from normal onset of diabetes. I started out with hypoglycemia when I was 10. Then when I was 19 I noticed diabetes symptoms and started slowly seeing high blood sugars. I was diagnosed a few months afterwards. I started insulin a little while after that. My insulin needs increased pretty quickly after starting. I started with fast acting insulin every time I ate, then added Lantus just a few days ago. Within the next 2 weeks i should be pumping.