6th April 2006
LADA that Blondy referred to has a twin sister, type 1.5. I think few doctors even know about these things. I am 72 and about 4 years ago I started having to watch my glucose. I am not overweight but having a diabetic kid has made me look out for such things. 2 Years ago I opted to go on medications as it was getting more difficult to keep acceptable readings. I had been eating low carb and that pretty well eliminates fiber. I started on Metformin and when that did not control I added Actos. Still problems so added Amaryl and Starlix, a quick short lived medication to cover meals. As familiar as I was with diabetes I had not heard of LADA or 1.5. Then I saw it on a post and started researching it.
Type 2 is not an autoimmune problem, type 1, LADA and 1.5 are. Those last 2 are almost, but not quiet the same. I asked my doctor to do a GAD65, something he knew nothing about but he listens to me. A positive GAD65 is an autoimmune factor and that took my diabetes out of the type2 group. Actos has no effect on this type. Co-incidentally and not related almost at the same time (about 1 month) another doctor did a series of test looking for autoimmune factors. They all came back positive. That explains most of my other problems.
I was referred to a Rheumatologist and found she didn't know about these things either. The doctor who had found all the autoimmune factors said I needed a more knowledgeable Rheumatologist. I now am waiting to see another Rheumatologist so the answers are not in yet. Most likely it will be found that I have Lupus, SLE or a couple other things.
One word about these autoimmune factors that is not well known is that the results come back with numbers but the numbers are not the important thing. What is important is that positive or negative. It is like being a "little bit preganat", you either or are not and a high number is no better or worse than a low number.
A search of LADA, type 1.5 or "what type are you" brings up lots of information on this. Type 1s usually needs insulin right away, type LADA or 1.5 usually progresses to insulin sooner than type 2. But since these glucose problems have a different cause they may need dirfferent medications. Knowing what type you are may or may not make a difference to you but I think it is best to know.
If you are interested in knowing what other lab work besides the GAD65 could be enlightening I can tell you the ones I had.
Getting controlled is difficult and in my estimation you are the only one that can know what it takes to keep the glucose under control. He's hoping the best for you.
BVan (Betty
Type 2 is not an autoimmune problem, type 1, LADA and 1.5 are. Those last 2 are almost, but not quiet the same. I asked my doctor to do a GAD65, something he knew nothing about but he listens to me. A positive GAD65 is an autoimmune factor and that took my diabetes out of the type2 group. Actos has no effect on this type. Co-incidentally and not related almost at the same time (about 1 month) another doctor did a series of test looking for autoimmune factors. They all came back positive. That explains most of my other problems.
I was referred to a Rheumatologist and found she didn't know about these things either. The doctor who had found all the autoimmune factors said I needed a more knowledgeable Rheumatologist. I now am waiting to see another Rheumatologist so the answers are not in yet. Most likely it will be found that I have Lupus, SLE or a couple other things.
One word about these autoimmune factors that is not well known is that the results come back with numbers but the numbers are not the important thing. What is important is that positive or negative. It is like being a "little bit preganat", you either or are not and a high number is no better or worse than a low number.
A search of LADA, type 1.5 or "what type are you" brings up lots of information on this. Type 1s usually needs insulin right away, type LADA or 1.5 usually progresses to insulin sooner than type 2. But since these glucose problems have a different cause they may need dirfferent medications. Knowing what type you are may or may not make a difference to you but I think it is best to know.
If you are interested in knowing what other lab work besides the GAD65 could be enlightening I can tell you the ones I had.
Getting controlled is difficult and in my estimation you are the only one that can know what it takes to keep the glucose under control. He's hoping the best for you.
BVan (Betty