Type 1

[strawberri]

? when I was 15 I had Rhumatic Fever, then at 16 I was told after a glucose tolerance test I was a diabetic, my mother was told from the dr who we couldn't understand, NO coke-a cola. At age 20 my kidney were have trouble, I got put on oral meds, no Blood glucose machines back then. I went on Insulin 4th baby, and then off, then back on for 2 yrs, I felt awful and went off. I have Mitral Valve Prolase(at age 28) Pheochromocytoma and left removal of adrenal gland, I have Psorisis/psordic arthritis, I have Valley Fever and nodule on right lung. My New Dr. Says because I have Clusters of AutoImmune Diseases I most likly have type 1 diabetes. This week He has run lost of test, blood, and heart tests and blood flow. I have been put on every poral pill and it hasn't dropped my BS. MY lst A1C was 7.0, I have been on a very low carb diet for yrs, I think if I weren't my BS would be alot higher all the time. My ? is could I be type 1 because of all the Auto disease and the age of 16 diagnoses?

[JDRF-VOL-RL]

Hello.  I'm not a medical professional, just the parent of a kid with diabetes.  Wow, you've got a lot going on.  An a1c of 7.0 is good, but it's a little higher than a non-diabetic should be.  If you've managed your diet by consuming fewer carbs, you can positively affect your blood sugars and a1c that way.  In fact, prior to the discovery of insulin, the treatment regimen for diabetes was to eat absolutely no carbs.  If you're having problems with high blood sugars, the best way to treat that is with insulin.  However, your question is about the cause of the highs.  High stresses put on the human body because of serious illness or major surgeries can cause blood sugars to rise.  That means non-diabetic, normally healthy individuals can require the temporary treatment of insulin until their health issues are resoled.  That is a definite possibility with you, meaning you may not be type 1, but because of the stresses being put on your body you may be experiencing high blood sugars.

[boseephus]

If your not overweight the chances of you being anything but an insulin dependent  diabetic at that age is very slim. It is possible to be a 2 at that age but without obesity it is extremely rare. You know some diabetics just don't handle the destruction that it can cause the same. I have had 1 for 30 years, and have just in my later years realized without God I don't stand a chance. But that is a good thing because you get strength from that. Just love your family ask for directions and you will be ok.

[JDRF-VOL-SG]

The clusters of autoimmune disorders would make me vote for type 1 diabetes like your doctor thinks. My twin has adrenal problems along with type 1, although I don't have the adrenal issues. But all of the endocrinologists I have seen have always tested for other endocrine disorders when the do annual blood tests because so many type 1 folks do have thyroid problems. Adrenal problems are rarer, but also more common among type 1 patients than among other patients from what I have read. The same autoimmune disorder that causes our bodies to over-react when stimulated by viruses to kill off the pancreas can cause attacks on other endocrine glands.