Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Seth on January 26, 2009 at 9:34am

Kimberly,

This is a slightly disturbing post and shows how much we have to do as a community. To the best of my knowledge you can not be cured from type 1 nor does a person morph mysteriously from type 1 to type 2.

I tend not to give advice but in your case it is easy. GET ANOTHER DOCTOR NOW.

The fact the you have improved diet and exercise is important whether you are type 1 or 2 it is a positive thing.

The answer to your question is yes thin people can have type 2.

Seriously, get another opinion I worry for the information you are getting it is bad. Hard to fight the disease with bad information.

Be well...

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Permalink Reply by Kimberly on January 26, 2009 at 9:54am

He is not suggesting that I changed at all from a type 1 to a type 2. He believes I was mis diagnosed. He thinks (while looking at my previous doctors notes) that the proper tests were not done to see if I was type one or two.

I also must say that i go to the Josilin clinic. I did not pick him out of the yellow pages, he works with a team. The team reviews me as a patient.

It is a postive thing to diet and exercise for anyone, but their point was that a dramtic change from fat to muscle will result in a drastic change for a type 2 not a type 1. I can diet until i am blue it will not make my pancreas decide it likes me enough to work agian.

It is nice that someone cares! I should have added more detail in my original post. My fault.

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Permalink Reply by Manny Hernandez on January 26, 2009 at 9:40am

Hi Kimberly,
Could this be a case of LADA instead?

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Permalink Reply by Kimberly on January 26, 2009 at 10:03am

Thank you so much. I will bring this up to my doctor. I am having my blood tests done (again or for the first time god knows) Feb 16th. I am very excited to see what comes back. I was diagnosed at 19 with type 1, not knowing anything about it, I just took what my doctors said as gospel. Now older (26) I am taking control and know something have to be wrong. Thank you very much agian!

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Permalink Reply by Kristin on January 26, 2009 at 11:17am

I must add that a healthy diet and exercise routine can significantly reduce the need for insulin in a type 1. If you eat less (especially less carbs), then you require less insulin and if you exercise more, the insulin that you inject becomes more useful. I have seen my insulin needs drop dramatically because of diet and exercise!

Sounds like you have made VERY positive changes. So well done on that!

There is nothing wrong with getting those tests done. It would be good to know how much insulin your body is producing and could be interesting to know what antibodies you do or do not have. But studies have shown that some type 1's continue producing insulin for years (especially LADAs). And not all type 1's have the same antibodies. So it's hard to be 100% certain of type. Please inform us of what tests the doctor does and what the results are.

I have heard of many LADAs being misdiagnosed as a type 2, but I have never heard of someone with type 2 being misdiagnosed as a type 1. How old were you when you were diagnosed (just out of curiousity, if you don't mind me asking!!)?

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Permalink Reply by Kimberly on January 26, 2009 at 11:29am

I was 19 when diagnosed. My endo now thinks that at that time I was 19, running everyday, going to the gym and in perfect shape. He thinks that he must have just assumed at that point it was type 1.

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Permalink Reply by Kimberly on January 26, 2009 at 11:19am

Type 1's can have better control from diet and exercise, too. The less carbs you eat, the less insulin you need. The less fat you eat, the less variability there is in carb absorption which results in you being better able to match insulin to carbs. The more you exercise, the less insulin you usually need. Getting rid of fat will increase your insulin sensitivity by decreasing your resistance. That last bit goes for everyone, not just diabetics.

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Permalink Reply by Kimberly on January 26, 2009 at 11:27am

Yes this is true, but it is more so in type 2. When you start off in great shape, there is really no where to go. My apt. was Thursday, I spent some of Thursday and all of Friday visiting doctors, and nutritionist. All agreed that in type 2 weight loss makes much more of a difference.

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Permalink Reply by Seth on January 26, 2009 at 2:31pm

Kimberly,

Perhaps I misread you original post or was confused. But it sounded different to me when I read the post. I do not think you can differentiate between type 1 and type 2 regarding diet and exercise. If we assume a fit person with either diagnosis they will/should have better control with diet and exercise.

I agree that Joslin is the place to be and you are in great hands. Sorry to have misread your original post.

Good luck with your quest for an answer

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Permalink Reply by Anna on February 3, 2009 at 5:02pm

A lady I used to work with had something similar happen. When she was 18, she was diagnosed with type 1. They put her on insulin for a few years, but she kept getting low, so then they decided she wasn't type 1. Thirty years later, she was diagnosed with type 2. Not that all type 2s are overweight, but she's about 5'11" and quite thin. Anyway, I'm not sure this is much help, but, basically, I do know that some people are misdiagnosed.

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