You didn't state your age, but some docs immediately (and incorrectly)
assume that the onset of diabetes in adulthood is automatically Type-2.

Usually Type-2s have inherited the "tendency" and it appears later in
life after they have packed on a few pounds. The fact that you do not
fit the usual mold here means that perhaps you are really a LADA, or an
adult onset Type-1.

This is something you should discuss with your doc, and if you don't get
satisfactory answers, like "let's run some antibody tests", you should
find yourself an endocrinologist for a second opinion.

Jim

Were you ever really sick with a immune system illness, like chickenpox?
Plus, the family history thing can be really problematic. If someone had
undiagnosed diabetes and dies from a heart attack who would know? Autopsies
aren't usually done if it looks cut & dried.
How old are you?
How about your racial makeup?
Had a major surgery?
Anything that stresses the insulin system and the beta cells is a risk
factor.
I'm not trying to be snotty but, didn't you get a chance to talk to a
diabetes educator?
Of course this all IMHO.
Doing even a quick search for "diabetes reasons for" yields some interesting
stuff.

Now comes the part you're not going to like:
if you don't feel that you meet any of these conditions you might want to
see your Dr. tout-de-suite.
Could be something major wrong with your pancreas that they didn't catch
when they dxed you T2.

This post not CC'd by email
On Sun, 5 Oct 2003 20:52:48 -0400 (EDT), csabourin@webtv.net (c
sabourin) wrote:

G'day G'day Charles,

You haven't by any chance been treated with high dose prednisone or
similar steroid?

Best wishes,

On very rare occasions, it it simply blind chance falling the wrong way.
However, your doc ought to agree if you ask him to check HLA-DR3 and
HLA-DR4, which will tell whrther you are t2, LADA, or late-onset t1 still in
honeymoon.

Al.

The causes of Diabetes are unknown.
This makes it an incurable disease
and the treatment just management of the
main symptom.
One theory we haven't heard much of recently is that
T2 is genetic and is so widespread that it must actually be a beneficial
gene/s from the Stone Age. Redundant in the present era.
As for it not being in your family, who were your 16
great-great-grandparents and what did they die of ?
Many of them, although carrying the genes for diabetes, would not have lived
long enough to develop it themselves - they just stored it up for you.

BMI is a useless measure...body fat percentage would be more indicative of
obeisity. Sure you weren't adopted ? If there's no history you might be on
the look out for T1.

The main risk factors are obeisity and family history.

Perhaps there were recessive genes on both sides of the family.  Also in
years past, diagnostic BG levels were much higher, people were told they had
a "little bit of sugar" (not realizing they were diabetic), and health care
wasn't as available or sophisticated so there were a lot of people walking
around with diabetes that didn't know it.

That said, did you have 2 tests done and are you sure from your home testing
that you are really diabetic?  One of my inlaws, who has no family history
and is very fit, had a FBG of 180 or so.  They tested him a couple weeks
later and his results were under 100.  Since then he's had a few other tests
and he's totally normal.  The lab had screwed up.

Also, as others have said, Type 1 could be a possibility.

--
Best wishes
Louise

Type 2 since 2000, controlling by diet and exercise

Hi there Charles,

First up, let me say welcome to the group!

As you can see, there's a lot of people here ready to help out and
offer ideas and suggestions. One of the advantages of coming into a
thread a bit later than others is being able to look over what
everyone else has suggested to see if any possiblities have not yet
been mentioned.

One rare condition that has not been brought up yet, is
Haemochromatosis.  This is a condition where the body stores up too
much iron, and it also can cause high blood sugar levels.  Did your
doctor do any general blood tests?  Or alternatively, have you ever
been a blood donor?  They test the blood for iron levels etc before
drawing any blood.  As I said, it's rare, but just another
possibility.

You've sure got a lot to think about now!

Do post again, and tell us how you're going with management etc of
your diabetes.  Don't be worried about asking any questions, no
matter how silly or "dumb" they may seem.  As you may have noticed,
this is a SUPPORT group, and we will be happy to help in what ever
way we can. We don't diagnose or prescribe meds, that's your
doctor's job, but there are a lot of things to learn about everyday
living with the disease.

All the best,

Annette

I too was diagnosed less than a month ago. They haven't told me yet what
type I am. They have me on insulin now; in the morning and evening. I have
no history of diabetes in my family either. I was a little overweight for a
few years. Not too much though. I'm 44, caucasian, and have never had the
chicken pox, any surgeries (oral, wisdom teeth when I was 22), never taken
steroids and have enjoyed good health till my diagnosis. I have never been
on any medication till now. The hospital took blood many different times and
haven't told me what they've found. My diagnosis came when I became
dehydrated and my blood sugar shot way up and I collapsed. I talked to an
educator at the hospital who said I may be able to get off the insulin if I
watch my diet, etc.. I live in a small town and am thinking that I should go
to a specialist in a nearby city. The doctor wrote down that I take 10 units
in the evening and the hospital and pharmacy wrote that I should take 12 in
the evening. I told my doctor about this on the first visit and he shrugged
and said it didn't matter that much. That seemed to me to be a cavalier
attitude that rubbed me the wrong way. We're talking about my life here!
Anyway, the next visit I will ask what type I am and anything else I can
think of. I always think of more questions once out of the office...

I started showing abnormal blood sugars  long before I had a weight problem.
In fact, the weight problem only came on after my blood sugars deteriorated
to near-diabetic levels.

Genes is my guess since a lot of my relatives on both sides (none of them
obese) died of heart disease and kidney failure. Five years ago I was told I
was NOT diabetic. Now with the same numbers I am.  The diagnostic standards
for Type II were MUCH higher even 10 years ago so only one of these
relatives (a grandmother) ever got a diabetes diagnosis, but I suspect the
rest of her children were spiking and running over normal fasting blood
sugars too (as I do.)

The good news is that with much earlier diagnosis you have a chance to
control your blood sugar before terrible damage is done to your various
organs like eyes, kidneys and vascular system.
-- Jenny

168.5/137

Low Carb 9/1998 - 8/2001 and 11/10/02 - Now

http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean
How to calculate your need for protein * How much people really lose each
month *  Water Weight Gain & Loss * The "Two Gram Cure" for Hunger Cravings
* Characteristics of Successful Dieters * Indispensible Low Carb Treats *
Should You Count that Low Impact Carb? * Curing Ketobreath * Exercise
Starting from Zero *  NEW! Do Starch Blockers Work?

I just learned that very high tryglcerides could be an indication of
approaching diabetes.  Not everyone fits the mold .  I guess it just
happens

Are you over forty

Loretta

--
In tribute to the United States of America and the State
of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife and
terrorism.