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Posts Tagged ‘Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults’

LADA and type 1.5 diabetes is confusing. Even to the doctors. We Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (or LADA) patients are a mystery and the new phenomenon as I’ve been told from my doctors.

In the mix of the pregnancy of my son Hunter, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Shortly after his birth my difficult struggle with gestational diabetes ceased and I was back to normal. My OBGYN actually wanted to write about my case in a medical journal. Then reality hit and he quickly changed his mind.

After a slap in the face at my gestational follow up, I was sent to a new doctor who quickly became my hero. My newly found endocrinologist correctly diagnosed me as a LADA or as having type 1.5 diabetes. Which in basic terms means I have juvenile diabetes, but contracted it well into my adult life. This also means I do not produce insulin properly and more importantly I did not obtain this disease due to poor eating habits or by being overweight. While I do not exercise, I eat well and I am well within my ideal weight.

This may feel like a death sentence for some, but really, it is not. Even though my father died of type 2 diabetes while I was pregnant with my son, I know from first hand experience it is controllable. His diabetes was more by choice and a severe lack of control, where as mine is due to genetics. I will take this genetic trait, as it is much better then some of the other factors I have floating around in my DNA. My mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when I was six months old and I only ever knew her as “sick” with MS. When I compare the two, there is no comparison.

So I began my journey into the unknown world of type 1.5 diabetes. It has been four years now and I know my story is so much better than others in my situation. I started a LADA group on Facebook and I have found not all LADA patients get diagnosed properly or quickly. Again, my endo is my hero.

Thanks to the great folks at Medtronics, my insulin pump arrived yesterday. My training will take place in a few weeks and I will be forever tied to a device. When I asked my endo about placement and complained about the insulin pump creating tan lines, his ever so frank reply was “Rebecca a tan line is better than dead”. And so the reason I love him so. Direct and to the point just like I prefer. He will not only spend an hour educating me one on one, he also tells me to stop whining.

I considered this a blessing and I am thankful every day for my insurance and my ability to manage this disease. I say I am a survivor and I am. My stubbornness will see me through this challenge and my OCD nature will keep me healthy. I eagerly await the usage of my little purple pump and the change it will have on my every day life. I also eagerly await the effect this lesson will have on my children. They and their friends are very aware of my condition and the fact that I diligently monitor and take care of my special needs. This has taught them and continues to teach them that life is not always easy, challenges will arise, but the smart will persevere. And while some may question this statement, I know it is true. My daughter Ally proudly tells people my story and that unlike my father, I do everything I can to control the uncontrollable. It is actually something she shares too liberally and with way to many people. But the love she oozes as she does, makes me smile and I know she has learned a valuable life lesson.