Anyone Else a Type 1.5 on this Board?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2003
Anyone Else a Type 1.5 on this Board?
3
Thu, 01-22-2004 - 12:08am
Hi all,

It's beena while since I've posted. Last month, I discovered that I am a Type 1.5 (or LADA) diabetic--something I'd never heard of before. After 5 frustrating years trying to control my blood sugar with increasingly poor results, my doctor tested me for GAD 65 protein--a marker for Type 1 diabetes. Apparently, 10-15 percent of Type IIs really have this "new" type of Diabetes. It differs from Type 1 in that people are older when they get diagnosed (over 30), and the loss of beta cells comes on over years not months like with many children who get Type 1. I've had to start insulin. It's been a challenge but the diagnosis has explained a lot about my symptoms and I don't feel so confused or discouraged.

I'd love to talk to anyone else who thought they were Type II only to find out they weren't. I'd also like to hear from people who've been on insulin for a while and how they maintained their weight or took long trips. My family and I want to go to a remote part of Mexico for a month this summer, and the idea is daunting hauling insulin, etc.

Thanks for listening.

Alison

Avatar for motek23
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2003
Thu, 01-22-2004 - 3:03pm
I've actually never heard of Type 1.5! But I was diagnosed at 28 after pregnancy as Type 1...but now you have me wondering. What were your symptoms? I didn't have any symptoms other than trying to concieve for the 2nd time w/o luck...up till now of course (I'm 9 weeks along).

I'm on insulin and I take it 3x a day. It's really very easy to travel. I use one needle a day....sometimes for 2 days. So that already cuts down on the amount of needles you have to travel with. Insulin bottels are pretty tiny so they can fit in a purse or backpack w/o any problems.

Good luck!

Viki

Avatar for cl_d_minnick
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 01-23-2004 - 3:25am
Hi Alison and welcome to the board. I am one of the community leaders for this board who has been a type 1 for over 28 years now and have been on a insulin pump for over 6 years. I have never heard of a type 1.5 before, but I guess that would mean not a juvenile type 1 and not an adult type II more along the lines of being in between both of those. Now as for your traveling plans. I can tell you that it is not hard at all to travel with insulin or syringes, but I do suggest that you purchase one of those great travel cases that also have an ice pack in them so that if it happens to be hot where you are going then you can keep your insulin from getting too warm and causing it to go bad. My second suggestion for you is to carry a prescription for any medication you are taking with you so in case you happen to loose something you can pick it up when you arrive in your destination. Also keep your medical supplies with you at all times so that way they don't get lost by accident ot mistake, which I have had all of my suitcases not show up at the airport when I arrived, but thankfully I had taken a carry on with all my medical supplies in there so I didn't have any trouble with that. Also find out more about the area where you plan to go in case you happen to need to pick up any medical supplies or become in need of a doctor this way you know ahead of time all about where to find these things before needing them. I hope this helps some and do let us know if we can help you out with any other questions and have a great day!

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Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Fri, 01-23-2004 - 9:18am

Here is a reply from cl-maryfrances40 of this, the Diabetes board.


"The diagnosis of diabetes 1.5 isn't accepted yet but it is talked about at the same as a discussion of putting all type 2 diabetic eventually on insulin. Frequently folks that might warrent this diagnosis are thin type 2's who can't be managed any longer on medical nuritional therapy, oral meds and exercise. But they really aren't a type 1 even though they no longer make insulin because of their insulin resistance. So frequently they need more insulin than a type 1 to keep their blood sugars under control.
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