I would be interested in hearing from anyone that is LADA, just new to this diagnoses.
Hi. I’m one of the LADA/Type 1’s on the board; there are many of us. I was misdiagnosed Type 2 in 2007 at age 58 and figured out my correct diagnosis in March of 2009. Ask whatever questions you may have and I’m sure someone will answer. There is also a LADA group.
Hi jdridge: Welcome! There are lots of LADAs/adult-onset Type 1s on TuDiabetes, including TuD founder Manny Hernandez. There is a LADA group, as Zoe mentions. Ask away, what are your questions?
Zoe, since 2009 and your diagnosis as a 1.5 - are you on insulin? are your blood sugars stable?
Thanks, I will check out the LADA group, I’m new to the site and learning, Melitta
Hi jdridge: There is lots to learn–it can be overwhelming. I have written a few blogs about adult-onset Type 1 diabetes that may be useful. My most recent blog is on medical misdiagnosis of insulin-deficient diabetes and one that people particularly seem to like is my Bill of Rights blog. I hope there is some useful information there for you. TuD is a place that you can get support and ask questions.
Hi jdridge: If you check out Zoe’s personal page, she’s on insulin using an insulin pump.
Hi jdridge. Yes, I began on insulin when I determined my correct diagnosis in February of 2009. I don’t care for the term 1.5, btw, as it sounds like it is halfway between type 1 and type 2 which it isn’t. I prefer LADA/Type 1 and most of the time I just say “Type 1” because that is what it is!
I started on my pump in January of this year. Are my blood sugars stable? Mas o menos. (more or less). As stable as many type 1’s get. My last A1C was 6.5. The last few months have been a bit up and down as I adjusted first to my pump and then to using Symlin, which I’ve discontinued (it was in the hope of losing some weight and I didn’t lose an ounce!). So I’m hoping my next A1C will be closer to 6.0. I’m content with that range.I don’t know how long ago you started on insulin. There is a definite learning curve. I highly recommend the book Using Insulin by John Walsh to get down the basics and when you do that your A1C will start to come down!
Hi Zoe, I started taking Lantus (long acting insulin) in June of this year. Thanks for the info on the book, I definitely need something to guide me thro this. My last A1C was 13 - so I would be thrilled to have 6.5. My doctor is talking insulin after each meal now - and the long acting has not even worked yet.
I feel like I’m feeling around in the dark with this.
Thanks Melitta, I have printed both blogs. I found it interesting, that I had to insist, that my doctor do the testing to determine or categorize whether it was 1,1.5 or 2. Why is this not automatic, how can they prescribe anything without truly knowing. jdridge.
I’m sure your doctor meant insulin before each meal not after. That is the standard of care: a basal insulin for background coverage 24 hours and a bolus insulin taken before meals. Many of us take our bolus about 15-20 minutes before we eat to give it a chance to work. We figure out our doses by using an Insulin Carb ratio. (1:10 would mean one unit of insulin for each 10 carbs). It’s really just trial and error to discover your own ratio.
The long acting may not work because you are not covering your carbs with a bolus insulin, so it is trying to do the work of both. Once you get on a basal/bolus regimen you can sort out doses. It takes time and trial and error. The book will definitely help as I think it’s too frustrating to wait for a doctor to tweak your doses as needed. I’ve learned much more from the book and people on here.
Hey, Welcome to the club.
I also am a 1.5. Started on oral medications, but have recently made the switch to insulin 3 months ago with basal levemir only at bedtime. The Dr seems to think I’m getting about 19 hrs of coverage with it, Im really not convinced. But did convince him that jogging 3km everynight after dinner 7 days a week was not a possible for me to always do to control the after dinner rising BG. So I have Apidra just started on Monday… so again the figuring it all out.
Being that it’s been just 2 years since I’ve been diabetic and 1 year with the proper 1.5 diagnosis, I have to tell you that you are NOT alone. Even if you don’t post much just reading the posts is a great way to learn, feel that you belong somewhere and can feel safe. Be prepared for many ups and downs both emotionally and BG wise. I still have hope that some day I will get a better handle on controlling my numbers with less effort.
Please feel free to drop in anytime, there is always help
Crashette, I am on lantus at bedtime too, plus metformin. I have not been on insulin that long either but it is not working for me that well. Now the doctor is talking adding insulin (fast acting) for meals. Quite frankly my blood sugar reads were better before I started taking insulin. Are you finding the levemir works well? Did your doctor do the testing to determine that you are a 1.5? Has your doctor give you any advice about your carb’s to insulin ratio?
Super sally I would LOVE to have a reading of 5.1 (A1c). Have you had higher A1c’s and what tips can you give that have worked for you?
The dr call’s me a type 1- but he said I had very low insulin production. I know I’m a 1.5 or a 1 what ever. The biggest part is still having some output from my pancreas… we are going through a divorce right now and it occasionally gives me a little support once and a while. lol Others like to call it the honeymoon phase… that is just a little so happy sounding for me.
Anyhow enough of my sillyness.
Dr started me at 1;10 carb ratio. It’s been 5 days since I started the fast acting. But I also dropped onglyza which the Dr said that my insulin needs would climb up… but he didn’t know how much.
I feel the levemir is working, I am close to having the basal rate figured out… I hope. I’ve had a few great suggestions from other members on testing the carb ratio, so I will work on that this weekend and hopefully get a few answers. I will let you know how it goes.
Oh and yes for sure my BG numbers are up this week aftermeals for sure. I keep thinking I should try some metformin in addition, but I hate the GI issues. So I will continue along with my experiment on myself to see if Im SMRT enough to get some answers.
Crashette - Well we seem to be approaching this challenge on a similar basis. I will be taking the meal time insulin as of the 26th the insulin is called Apidra and I was told to take 4 units per meal. My doctor says that until they get me stablized that they would have difficulty determining a ratio.
I don’t know if it is possible, but would you like to exchange emails?
I have to admit I’m not all that up on some of the terms used, " you stated you talked about metformin and GI issues, what is that?
So how do you know that your pancreas is still functioning, did you have tests or because your BG numbers are reasonable?
Talk to you soon.
Super Sally thanks for the response. I have had some problems with “lost” data as well.
Anyways, I will take a look at the Bernstein approach. I find that for 30 minutes on the treadmill I can reduce my BS by 5 points, so far that is the only thing that I have been able to count on because my insulin has no pattern…
You should think about joining the LADA group here. Until I found TuDiabetes I had never met another person with LADA. I was also one of the many of us who was misdiagnosed with Type 2 before being tested for Type 1.
Hi jdridge. There is talk in this discussion about low carb and exercising to keep your insulin needs low. I’m not a medical person, but I’d suggest not taking 4 units of Apidra with a low carb meal or after exercise on the first day or two. Experiment with just a small amount of Apidra at first, find out if a low carb meal really does need 4 units. When/if you eat something higher in carbs (potatoes, rice, cereal,etc.) note what they require. Keep a log about exactly what you’re eating and when you’ve exercised. Test your blood sugar before a meal, then 2 hours after,and record it. You’ll soon work into an understanding of how the Apidra is working for you. I’m not saying a long, drawn-out period of experimenting, just start carefully and be aware of what’s going on. (I’ve had LADA/Type 1 for 18 years.) Best wishes.
I absolutely agree with Trudy, jdridge. Taking a set dose per meal is bound to get you into a cycle of eating to match your insulin dose, when it should be the reverse - dosing insulin to match your food. If you eat low(er) carb and still produce some of your own insulin, you may find 4 units excessive.Your doctors can’t determine a ratio, but you can. Start with say 1:15 which is a good middle point, then if you are high two hours after your meal, lower it to 1:14, if you are low raise it to 1:16, etc. You may also find you have ratios that are different for different meals. It does take some time, but trial and error is a large part of diabetes and will help you get things in range.