32/healthy - just diagnosed Type 2

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-30-2004
32/healthy - just diagnosed Type 2
5
Thu, 09-30-2004 - 4:48pm
I was just diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I'm 31, not overweight (5'6" - 140 lbs), no family history, & my blood pressure is normal. Does anyone know if there is something else that could be causing my "diabetes"? My fasting blood glucose level was 244. I understand that I am certainly in the denial phase right now, but I'm just looking for other reasons that may cause this.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-02-2003
Thu, 09-30-2004 - 5:28pm

Hi Bravebull, and welcome -


I myself am a 1 (adult onset), but you and I share body type and size.

Blueliner4
(aka The Pixie Princess)

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2003
Fri, 10-01-2004 - 12:37am
Hello and welcome,

I was diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic at age 34. No family history either. Not overweight, and I exercised, too. Blood sugar at diagnosis-470 in the doctor's office. After almost six years of using medication to struggle to manage my diabetes (and the whole time not really fitting the Type 2 profile), I was re-diagnosed as an adult-onset Type 1 (sometimes this is called LADA or Type 1.5). Typically, when a person is diagnosed as a Type 2, it means they make insulin but are resistant to that insulin. However, with a Type 1 (1.5, LADA), a person is not resistant to insulin. They don't make enough insulin or they make NO insulin.

I agree with other posters to ask your doctor about your C-peptide test results. This indicates how much insulin you are making. It also may prove beneficial to ask your doctor to do a GAD 65 protein test. This test is a marker for beta cell damage-a sign that you are not Type 2 but are Type 1.

With the type of diabetes I have, the beta cell damage (indication of Type 1 not Type 2) occurred over several years not months--which is what typically happens with children who get Type 1. I was lucky that I could use medicine for a while to control my diabetes.

The reason I reccomend that you talk to your doctor and soon is that if you are NOT a Type 2 and are, in fact, a Type 1 diabetic or LADA or 1.5, you want to save as much beta cell fuction as possible.

Now, I'm not a doctor, and what I'm writing is just a suggestion. However, I relate to what you said about being normal weight, no family history. I wish someone had encouraged me to ask more questions from the beginning.

Hope this information helps.

HMBalison

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-30-2004
Fri, 10-01-2004 - 10:04am
I want to thank you both so much for replying. How it all started is that I got a UTI, went to my gynecologist on Monday the 27th to get anti-biotics where they discovered glucose in my urine, pricked my finger and told me my fasting blood sugar was 244. I followed up with the internist the next day - same result - fasting blood glucose of over 200. Looking back after knowing what the symptoms are, I've been very hot and sweaty, sleeping constantly, itchy (my mother actually thought I had a rash on my face the weekend before I was diagnosed), the UTI, more hungry than usual, blurred vision, and feeling a little shaky. All of these, I just chalked up to drinking too much coffee at work, going out too much at night, and getting older. The internist is doing a bunch of blood work and I go back on Tuesday the 5th for the results. I was also shocked since I've always thought my diet was fairly healthy. I've been some form of vegetarian for over 10 years now! Currently, I eat fish and dairy. I will certainly ask my doctor to do all the tests you both suggested, if she hasn't already, and will keep you both posted. I know diabetes affects millions of people, but I never thought it could happen to me. Thank you again for your help. It's comforting to know that there are other women in the same position as me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2003
Fri, 10-01-2004 - 12:57pm
Dear Bravebull,

It sounds like you will get more information soon. The thing I've learned after the shock (truly) of the diagnosis of diabetes is to ASK QUESTIONS. It has taken me years to come to terms with diabetes, and the change to taking insulin starting last Jan. was a big change for me. No one likes having diabetes, but it does force me to take my health seriously, to celebrate the health that I have, and to keep in balance.

Please come back and visit often. I enjoy connecting with others who deal with this disease. It makes me feel that I'm not alone.

Let us know what you find out with your doctor.

HMBalison

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-02-2003
Fri, 10-01-2004 - 2:17pm

I agree totally with Alison.

Blueliner4
(aka The Pixie Princess)