I have a young friend who is type 1. Lucky her, her father is a biotechnology entrepreneur who has made -- guess what? -- diabetes treatment his life's work. She has a pump. She also has had, for years, a program on her Palm to keep track of her insulin needs (I think it's been made obsolete by the pump). She's really cheerful about the pump. She says it's a tremendous improvement in her daily life.

Hi

I'm really sorry for you, but the way you "trifle" with your diabetes is exemplary. In german I would say it is "Galgenhumor" (translated in english : gibbet-humour) .

Do you know the reason why it went for you from type 2 to 1 ?

I'm diabetic too( type 2), since soon 30 years, and I take twice a day one or two tablets biguanid, checking the level of blood sugar monthly, always keeping it just under the "risk limit". Another point is to restrain the sugar in your alimentation, but that's not so easy .

I wish you full success in your fight .

BTW, my medic told me that diabetics are always people who like good cocking and appreciate an epicurean way of life .

Take care

old bob

If you need to start taking insulin, a pump is good idea, as somebody who has recently become a diabetic has great difficulty in keeping control. But you should consider why you are having to take insulin. Why are you now type 1 not a servere type 2?? I would recommend that you obtain a diabetic control software programme which can be used to determine what medication is required according to food intake and physical activity.

My father developed diabetics late in life and although quite capable finds controlling it difficult, my young neice although very active and not always quite there finds it easy. A "smart" pump could be great help. However, It does get in the way, and restricts your life. It also needs care and maintainance.

My father did have an early pump, but had to stop using it because he could not maintain it( In the widest sense)

In summary, consider why you are becoming type 1??, take care over diet and activity, will the pump get in the way, can you look after it.

Good Wishes, from somebody who has been on the verge of type 2 for 39 years.

Red

Diabetes Type 2 cannot turn into type 1.

Type 1 happens when the body's defence(immune) system attacks and kills all the pancreatic cells that produce insulin. Insulin is essential so that the body can use the energy we eat. So for Type 1, injections are essential for life.

Type 2 diabetes is when the body makes less (but there is always some) insulin but the second and usually the biggest change is often that the body cells do not let the insulin transfer the sugar out of the blood and into the muscles and other cells as quickly as before (called insulin resistance).

All adults have less insulin over time and our cells don't let the insulin move the sugar. So with diabetes these changes are already exagerated and with time these changes progress whether or not you already have diabetes.

Even if you have a "perfect" diet and exercise everyday, the body has changed and most people need oral medicine to help keep blood sugar normal. But due to ongoing changes over time, a diabetic ( type 2) may need more (amount or kinds) medicine to keep blood sugar normal. Insulin is just one more option. In itself, insulin does not mean you have more severe diabetes nor do you become type1.

Both diabetes affect the body's ability to use sugar but they are not on one continum of severity.

frances

Diabetes Type 2 cannot turn into type 1.

Actually, it can, but it is very rare. A type 2 is not immune to the autoimmune problem that is the primary cause of Type 1.

So, it is possible, and does occur on occasion, that a T-2 will become an adult onset Type-1. They will still have the high insulin resistance of a T-2, though. More commonly, a T-2 will become insulin Dependant when their pancreas finally fails, but that isn't the same thing as type-1, and they are not type-1's.

You are absolutly right in the there is no "progression" from type 2 to type 1: they are very different diseases.

An update:

 

With spring and summer coming, that means the amusement parks will be opening soon and I'll more to do on the weekend. And since the parks seem to like to spread the Coaster out in the park, that means more walking to get to them.

 

At todays appointment, it has been confirmed that I am a Type 1. The oral med's that I take aren't effective anymore. That will save me a few bucks on my co-pay on my Rx plan which ranged from $5 to $35 depending on the Rx.

 

Who knows, maybe the original diagnosis was wrong. But as the doctor said this morning, "The honeymoon period is over."

LADA's (Late onset adult type 1 diabetes) does indeed have a honeymoon period, and that could well be part of the cuase of your problems with humalog; your pancreas will, intermittently and unevenly, still have residual function.

If you have antibodies for T-1, and given that the orals are innefective, I'd say the original T-2 Dx was certainly wrong.

Sorry to hear about the T-1, Jan