<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

There has been some interesting talk about the differences between the different types of diabetes and how they are diagnosed.  Type 1, like Type 2 diabetes can be diagnosed at ANY age.  Yes, it is true that most people with type 1 developed diabetes as children or young adults, but it can develop at any age.  The way to tell if it is type 1 is to have antibody tesing done.  If there are anti insulin and anti islet cell antibodies present, then you have autoimmune diabetes (type 1 or LADA or whatever).

Often it is difficult to determine the type of diabetes in an 'older' (older than 30) person who is newly diagnosed, if you don't do the antibody test.  The older you are at diagnosis, the longer it takes for the destruction of the insulin producing beta cells to be destroyed and many people at this stage can control their blood sugar levels with diet and exercise and/or oral medications for some time.  But since the destruction of the beta cells is underway, insulin is eventually needed (within a couple of years) to control blood sugar.

In the end, it doesn't really matter what type of diabetes it is.  What matters most is that the most effective way of controlling blood glucose levels is found and used. I would agree with other posters that there is no "diabetes diet".  You eat what anyone else would eat, count your carbohydrate intake at each meal or snack and take the appropriate amount of insulin to cover that amount of carb.

Andrea in Paris


On Thu, 12 Sep 2002 14:54:47 -0400
Ginny Mingolla <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       Celiac-Diabetes Support List
>               <[log in to unmask]>
> Poster:       Ginny Mingolla <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject:      Questions
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> <<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
>
> It's been a long time since anyone posted.  I might have been the last one.
> I wish we could get more activity on this list.  I know we are a small group
> but I think we all need as much support as we can get.
>
> I have a few thoughts and wonder if others could share their thoughts with
> me.  I have been gluten free for about 15 years.  It became a way of life a
> long time ago and the idea of eating something with gluten does not enter my
> mind.  Some foods I miss but don't spend much time thinking about them.  I
> also stayed lactose free for all those years because I felt milk bothered
> me.
>
> I find the diet for diabetes much harder for me to get control of.  I have
> terrible sugar cravings.  I have gone back on milk out of necessity and now
> can't get enough of it.  I'm wondering if sugar craving is a part of
> diabetes.  Everyone knows someone who is diabetic and does not follow the
> diet.  If I can handle the celiac diet why not the diet for diabetes?
>
> I understand the relationship between celiac and diabetes.  I have numerous
> other autoimmune illnesses.  Does this mean I definitely have Type 1
> diabetes?  I have never really gotten an answer about what Type I have from
> the doctors.  They have joked about me being a  1 1/2.  I have been on
> insulin for over a year (diagnosed 2 years ago).
>
> So, I would be interested in your thoughts.
>
> Ginny
>
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