This is for all the friends that love me.
Backstory: I have agonized for 20 years about what type of diabetes I have, and whether I’m faking it, and had bouts of denial, and binged myself into a coma last year which almost killed me. I know it’s emotionally crazy, but I’m being honest about all my horrible feelings.
I will be eligible for Medicare in less than a year and a half, and I’ve been in excruciating emotional pain thinking that my C-peptide would be too high for them to cover my pump. So when jrtpup got hers done, and JUST squeaked in under the line (110% of the low end of normal), I put my heart in my mouth and decided to get mine done too. She suggested that I do it privately, because I have been just too scared to ask my doc because once a higher than cutoff C-peptide has been recorded, the ■■■■ has hit the fan.
So I went and got a blood draw yesterday, and wasn’t expecting results so soon, but there they were in my email box this morning. And:
0.9 (normal range 1.1-4.4)! TaDA!!
This is EXCEEDINGLY good news, for 2 reasons. First, I’m solidly below the cutoff, AND I do have residual insulin production, which clearly contributes to better control. How lucky can I get?
I’m just shaking with relief, and now I have to ask my endo’s office to request the results, because I CAN share them. And hopefully never have to have another test.
Still reluctant to actually call myself Type 1, (still prefer Type Weird), but at least I know I’m not a hyperinsulinemic, insulin-resistant Type 2. No insult to Type 2’s – you know that I have utmost empathy for them, but I really needed help with dealing with all the shame and blame issues that are imposed on Type 2’s when I believed in my heart of hearts that that’s what I really was.
Maybe this is a ramble, but I needed to do it. And if you respond to me, I’ll feel even better!
Congratulations Natalie! This result must be such a load off your mind. Time to celebrate! Cheers! Joanne
You are a brave woman 
Can I say told ya so? LOL You’re even lower than I was, no squeaking there. BIG hugs!
Peace of mind cannot be overrated! Glad for you, Natalie!
That is great, you will qualify for a pump! The c-peptide test is actually a really poor criteria, you can manipulate it and it really is irrelevant to whether you warrant coverage. All you need is a single recorded instance of a low (qualifying) c-peptide. I’m happy for you.
Of course it is a poor criterion – insulin using Type 2’s who may fall above the cutoff STILL could benefit from the pump. Just because their C-peptide is “normal” still doesn’t mean they can make enough for THEIR needs.
In my case, I did NOT manipulate the test, although I was thinking about ways to do it in case it came out too high. And that’s the reason I did it privately – this was really for my own information. But since it came out the way I wanted it to, I’m going to share it with my docs.
I remember all the struggles you went through to get on insulin, and I really do think that we are trapped by a bureaucratic, textbook-oriented medical system, so we do what we need to, like you did. I’m glad I didn’t have to manipulate it.
Congrats to you Natalie!! What a needless journey you went through. I’m so glad you have your answer finally. I do think, however, that you should maintain the unique and telling tag of “Type Wierd”. Humorous as it is it also says a lot about our condition. Besides that I just like it.
My 2 cents worth??? Good for u natalie! I don’t think that bsc was suggesting that u did maluplate the test just saying it COULD be done. I’m a type 1 myself but thanks to the Medicare guide lines I got to have a c-peptside test 2 months ago. Honestly couldn’t belive it seeing that I had had d since I was 10 but it is a guideline
I TOLD YOU SO!
I hate when people say that, but in this case, I hope you don't mind!
I did not mean to suggest you manipulated it. I meant that the c-peptide is highly dependent on your blood sugar level. It seems ripe for playing. A savvy doctor can guide their patient through “improving” their score.
Do make sure that you share it with your doctor and it is prominent as a permanent part of your record.
And maybe someday I will do the same as you. My c-peptide was 1.6 when it was measured a bit over 2 years ago.
+1
No, I don’t mind! It’s just what I wanted to hear!
Now you can sleep better at night! Someone here mentioned putting their test results in her wallet - you should do that too and make sure your sister-in-law has a copy, just in case!
This IS great news, Natalie!! I’m really glad for you
Huge relief! Glad you can now relax on several fronts. Not so weird after all:)
That’s great news for you Natalie! I am wondering though if Medicare might demand a tet from their laboratory, where a hired stooge technician might get different results, cooked calibrated to meet their goals? I would not put anything past government administrators?
I also am wondering if instead of “type 1” and “type 2” we might consider referring to ourselves by our test results? I’d be lost as I’m not sure what exactly mine are or even if they are checked along with the other stuff?
Natalie: I am so happy that you have some peace of mind. I understand completely that guilt of not fitting into a category. I am a Type 1 diagnosed at 9 years old, but at times over the years-I would have sworn that I was producing my own insulin. But, I was accused instead of “faking” lows or manipulating insulin. I do not know if I have ever taken a C-peptide test -when I finally learned of it-they said it was inappropriate and unnecessary because I had been diabetic too long. It is good to get a solid answer.
When I was initially denied coverage for a pump-it was because my fasting bg was too HIGH. I remember thinking-“well yeah it is high because I am not getting good control with my current method of treatment.” Some of these rules and tests make very little sense to me.
Don’t give Medicare any ideas AR! As of right now, they don’t have special labs to do the testing at, but who knows what tomorrow will bring.
Kelly posted the Medicare guidelines the other day when I had mine done. To paraphrase, they say that if you have labs in your file that show you are within 110% of the guidelines, that qualifies you. So my squeaking by is good enough tg! I have 4 years till Medicare but was already nearly frantic. I’ve known all along I’m LADA (mis-dx, of course).
Yes, they sure are checked! Though I’m sure mine will be different with time, and with the guidance of my endo who …cough… instructed me how to ‘tweak’. If it needs to be done again I will!