Diabetes diagnosis

[jhynesrockmtn]

I'm 53, was 6-1", 197ish pounds, fit, no history in family or worries about blood sugar at yearly physicals. Recently back from a 10 day trip and my eyesight had changed. Optometrist says all looks healthy but you should get your blood work done. I was due for a physical anyway so I scheduled it out 10 days. I tanked the weekend before the physical. Legs cramped up on a long mountain bike ride, mouth dry, etc.

Verdict is what they are calling type 1.5 diabetes. Blood glucose 3 times normal and has been based on my A1C test. Doc says body just was adjusting until it tipped over the edge. Looking back I didn't feel 100% on my winter workouts but attributed it to not being in summer riding shape.

Anyone else? Any good books with recipes? I'm researching and reading. Started insulin on Friday. I'm down from over 300 on Saturday morning to just under 200 today so progress.

My wife has been a rock. It's been a good diet plan so far. Down 7-8 pounds. I'm on it. Eating like a rabbit and bear combined, assuming a rabbit and a bear could saute veggies and scramble eggs. Cut out alcohol, sweets, etc.

Looking forward to feeling better and getting back on the bike.

[vash]

damn. sorry for the troubles.

crank up the exercise? buy a mtn bike..i think that single moved saved me.

[scottmandue]

My co-workers husband went on the Atkins diet and reversed his diabetes.

I am type 2 and have been on a diet that is supposed to reverse diabetes... Gluten and dairy free, all organic blah, blah, blah. I have lost 15 pounds and my glucose numbers are down but I'm still on metaformen (the whole idea was to get off the meds).

I have heard going vegetarian can also reverse diabetes.

I'm thinking of switching to the Atkins... I know for a fact it worked for my friends husband.

[Tobra]

Diabetes 1.5, really? Sort of like prediabetic, or a little pregnant.

Ask your primary care physician to refer you to a diabetes education class and a nutritionist.

I used to have a sweet diabetic cookbook from Gourmet magazine in my waiting room, would photocopy recipes out of it for my patients. Despite the free copy service announced on the cover in sharpie, people tore so many pages out of that hardcover book that it fell apart.

There are a lot of diabetic cookbooks out there.

[Craig T]

Diet and exercise can bring a fasting glucose of 130 down to 99, and with dedication and diligence bring most pre-diabetic levels down to normal...But a fasting glucose of 300 is a critical high level, and more typical of a person with a history of diabetes not managing it properly.

My guess is the "Type 1.5" Dx was due to the lack of a history of juvenile diabetes (type I) and lack of a previously diagnosed type II issue, combined with these critically high test result. It's common for an overweight 53 year-old, or even a healthy 53 with family history of diabetes, to develop type II...but a 300 gl is more serious than showing up one day at 53 with a 130 gl.

Hopefully it's just a temporary acute issue and your pancreas will snap back. Whatever it is, don't mess around. See a good endocrinologist and follow his instructions.

Get better soon.

[pwd72s]

Welcome to the club. A club that none of us wanted to join. Your attitude is good. Yes, there are changes in life...but it's not the end of life.

[wolds]

Sorry to hear that. I was diagnosed in 2013 at 60 with similar symptoms and an A1C of 14. Initially thought we could control it with Metformin but pancreas is not making much insulin and I am now considered a type 1. No history of diabetes in the family and not sure what triggered it. Currently on lantus and humalog and have been able to control sugar fairly well with and a1C of 7.2 but it is trending down and my goal is mid 6's. Go find yourself a good endocrinologist that specializes in diabetes. I

[jyl]

I keep reading about remarkable success stories where people reverse early stage diabetes through major weight loss. Any thoughts?

[Rickysa]

sweet diabetic

kinda like "jumbo shrimp"

[RKDinOKC]

My Dad had diabetes that was triggered by major weight loss. The doctor said he didn't expect him to stick to the diet so strictly and loose so much weight so fast.

I stepped on a roofing nail in my back yard a few years ago and went from diet and exercise well managed borderline diabetic, not even on oral meds to a full blown type II diabetic on Lantis and Novolog (extended and quick acting insulins). It happened within 2 weeks.

Got a MRSA (penicillin resistant) blood infection from the nail. Was questionable as to whether I was going to live for a couple of weeks. Besides the high blood sugar levels it has really messed up my digestion, and the blood veins in my legs and in my eyes. At first they thought the complication were due to blood sugar, but A1C's are from 6 to 6.2. And they say everything else checks out okay.

Have your eyesight checked for retinopathy. That is the swelling of the blood veins in the back of your eyes. It is usually caused by high blood sugar. They have shots that can reduce the swelling and bleeding of those veins and keep it from damaging your vision!

[gsxrken]

I did not know a healthy, fit 53 yr old could just develop diabetes. I thought it was either a since-childhood thing or something brought about by the western diet and sedentary lifestyle.

Crap. One more thing to worry about.

[sjf911]

Originally Posted by jyl

I keep reading about remarkable success stories where people reverse early stage diabetes through major weight loss. Any thoughts?

Free fatty acids (FFA's) are one of the principle mechanisms of decreasing insulin sensitivity. Obesity is associated with elevated circulating FFA's which can be reduced with weight loss.

While we perceive glucose to be toxic to tissues at higher levels, it turns out FFA's are more toxic to cells and elevated FFA's in tissues will shut off glucose utilization to avoid FFA induced cell damage. Your body is trading a more immediate danger (FFA toxicity) for a more latent danger (glucose toxicity).

Type II diabetes is best thought of as an energy storage disorder. A disorder that has a significant genetic component making some individuals highly sensitive to even small increases in body fat stores such that only a few pounds of extra weight can trigger its development.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by jyl

I keep reading about remarkable success stories where people reverse early stage diabetes through major weight loss. Any thoughts?

Not so much reverse it, as change it from controlling the blood sugars with medications, to controlling it with diet and exercise.

Oh yeah, if you smoke, you need to stop, nowish.

[dienstuhr]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Diabetes 1.5, really? Sort of like prediabetic, or a little pregnant.

No, not like that at all.

Correct me if I'm wrong, OP, but type 1.5 is also known as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). Like type 1, it results in a dead pancreas, and no diet on Earth is gonna provide insulin for you when you can't make it yourself. And there's nothing you did to bring it on either, that schit just happens.

Best wishes to you as well OP.

[dewolf]

[Don Ro]

^^^
I have such difficulty understanding his English...too bad.

[jhynesrockmtn]

No, not like that at all.

Correct me if I'm wrong, OP, but type 1.5 is also known as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). Like type 1, it results in a dead pancreas, and no diet on Earth is gonna provide insulin for you when you can't make it yourself. And there's nothing you did to bring it on either, that schit just happens.

Correct from my understanding ^^^^^

They are going to take more blood Friday to see if I'm making my own insulin at all. The opinion based on my history of no blood sugar issues previously and level of fitness is this is not type II. Type 1.5 from what I've read is basically late onset type I. You can't live without insulin injections or a pump. Not something you can diet your way out of. Some type 1.5s can be treated for a while like a type II if they are still making some insulin but eventually will need injections.

One book I'm reading describes the difference between type I and II as - if you dropped two diabetics on an deserted island with access to fish, edible plants and water, the type I would be dead in under two months, the type II would be cured.

[Don Ro]

"One book I'm reading describes the difference between type I and II as - if you dropped two diabetics on an deserted island with access to fish, edible plants and water, the type I would be dead in under two months, the type II would be cured."
~~~~~~
Book title and author, please.

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by gsxrken

I did not know a healthy, fit 53 yr old could just develop diabetes. I thought it was either a since-childhood thing or something brought about by the western diet and sedentary lifestyle.

Crap. One more thing to worry about.

Alcohol is ultimately broken down into sugar. So even a guy who doesn't eat a lot of sugar but has a few after work is getting a dose.

[livi]

The "1.5" type of diabetes is rare among children but we have had a few in their early teens. What has stricken me is the tendency in this small group to have a blood glucose that is all over the chart and periodically rather difficult to keep in check with insulin. I have no idea what the situation is with adults but it seems obvious that it is very much a case for a specialist.