I don't understand why the use of insulin would cause a loss of beta cell mass. Seems to me that it would PROTECT the beta cells by decreasing their workload. Could you explain further? Thanks, Brian!!
JaninaWalker,
Interesting comment about birth control: āI had also started the birth control pill which can be an interfering factor in the way insulin works so requires more insulin to be producedā. Are you saying that by taking the birth control pill, I am upping my insulin needs? If so, I would consider stopping to see if my needs can drop. I am keen to reduce my requirements as much as possible, due to easily gaining weight if I take more than 20u per day.
Thanks for this post. I am pretty sure I simply have type1 diabetes. I am 53 yo.
My onset was rapid and classic: thirst, dry mouth, blurred vision, and within a couple weeks nausea, cramps, metallic taste in my mouth. I had a rotator cuff surgery December 9 2016 and these symptoms began on December 30. I thought it had to do with the surgery.
For the record, In the past every time my blood glucose was checked it was right around 90. The last time I had a routine check my blood glucose was September 2016 and it was 90.
Luckily I was accurately diagnosed on january 20. A1c of 13. The PA thought type 2 but I suggested w my hashimotos background and fitness level we needed to check for type 1. Within 5 minutes we had results: positive for antibodies. Also cpeptide came back low.
I am unclear as to why this would be called 1.5. To me it just seems like I have been lucky and not gotten my juvenile diabetes until very late. My pediatrician thought I had diabetes when I was a teenager because I got so many staph infections. So it is interesting to me that I eventually developed type one. I also had both mumps and German measles as an adolescent.
While it appears I am in a bit of a honeymoon phase, I am clearly insulin-dependent. So essentially I went from having a normal blood glucose level in September to being insulin-dependent a few months later. This clearly does not fit some sort of hybrid between type one and type two.
My records say LADA, but I guess Iām wondering how useful a diagnosis that is. Sure seems like straight up classic rapid onset type one diabetes to me.
Thanks for your posts. in general Iām feeling lucky that I did not have to deal with this as a child and have been up beat. But had a rough day with a low and was glad to be able to read some posts to help me think through my situation
Ih and I forgot! I lost 14 pounds in 6 weeks!
I visited 4 GPs over 18 months with no diagnosis. I eventually bought some urinalysis dip sticks at the local pharmacy and diagnosed myself.
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I was originally diagnosed as type two in 1999. I was 56. I was living in Salt Lake City, UT and was diagnosed at the Diabetic Center at the U of U Hospital by the head doctor, Dana Clark MD. I had lost about 15 lbs-which on my five foot frame was quite noticeable!
I had a quick run on an oral med; but it soon became evident that I would need insulin to gain any weight back. My BG was 575. My A1c. 13. I was started on Novolog and Lantus. I received some education on how to take the insulin and was seen at regular intervals until my insurance refused to cover my continued tx there.
So now I was followed by my regular MD who Rx my meds. No changes occurred, though I had regular (Q 3 mos) A1cs which continued to decline to 5.9. I also regained my weight to 115 lbs.
All went well until last year when I suddenly started having severe hypos with extreme sweating and confusion. At this time I had moved to Oregon, was retired and on Medicare. I made an appt with the local MD who referred me to Sarah Swartz, MD, an endocrinologist in Corvallis, OR. She ran blood tests, declared I was now type one and put me on a CGM-Dexcom. She also changed Lantus to Tresiba and gave me a scale of insulin per carbs to follow. I am now stable againā¦ My last A1c was 5.9. She was the one who told me that a person could become a type one at any age! How lucky I was to find her. Today I am well, stable and very grateful!
It only took seven week after a head cold and feeling completely normal for me to be hospitalized with a reading of 27.3 mmol/L (491 mg/dL).
Looking back through my records now, I know I must have been producing some insulin because I would have good control if kept my BGL from falling below 5.4 mmol/L. I had to start insulin six months later.
I am now wondering if my fast progression to Type 1 was due to the loss of Beta Cells that produce Amylin or other hormones that regulate BGL.
I too was first diagnosed as Type 2 by my Doctor because of my age 56 and because I had no ketones even although I then had a reading of above 23 mmol/L.