"Diagnosis of adult onset type 1 diabetes"

After experiencing sudden onset of symptoms, I visited my GP at Stockbridge Health Centre to get checked out. The GP listened to me and took my concerns seriously although she was reassuring. Unfortunately tests showed a high level of glucose in urine, so I was referred urgently to the hospital metabolic clinic. The GP gave me instructions to watch out for symptoms that meant I needed urgent medical attention and a prescription for medication to get started on as soon as possible. She telephoned me later that day with blood results which confirmed high glucose.

I got an appointment at the hospital metabolic clinic within a week, which was good.

When I arrived it was a bit overwhelming, but I was taken to a room where a friendly nurse took some blood and ran a couple of quick tests and showed me how to use a blood glucose meter. This was helpful.

However I believe that the doctor who saw me was not very informed about type 1 diabetes in adults, because they diagnosed me with type 2 without running any additional testing. Looking back on the symptoms I was presenting with, I think this doctor should have suspected adult onset type 1 as my GP did, but they assumed incorrectly that because I did not need to start on insulin right away that I did not have type 1.

I was put on medication for type 2 diabetes and given some leaflets and a glucose meter but little other information. It was left up to me to go home and research my new condition, why I developed this, and find out what I should be doing to manage with it. The medication did little to help my blood sugars and gave me some uncomfortable side effects, but I was able to lower my blood sugars through reducing my carbohydrate intake.

6 months later at my second follow up appointment I was better informed and asked to be tested for adult onset type 1 diabetes, because I fit all of the classic signs for this. The doctor agreed to do the tests after checking with the consultant and a few days later I received the results that confirmed that I did indeed have adult onset type 1 diabetes, and not type 2.

I was quite unhappy with the 3 (registrar?) doctors I had seen at the metabolic clinic who had all just assumed that I had type 2, based only on an assumption one of them made from my first appointment. However the diabetes consultant who I was brought in to see after I received my correct diagnosis was very good. He changed me onto more appropriate medication (insulin) so that I could eat more normally again, and explained about how adult onset type 1 develops over time. By recognising my symptoms and okaying my testing for type 1, he probably saved me from months or years of high blood sugars that are typically seen in misdiagnosed adult onset type 1 diabetics. My consultant is very pro-diabetes care technology which is great. I feel like he definitely knows what he is doing regarding my treatment.

There are several diabetes specialist nurses working in the clinic. Generally, these have been very helpful and knowledgeable but one has given me very bad advice on more than one occasion. But while waiting for eye screen appointments it's very interesting to read the research study posters generated by the nurses and doctors which are displayed in the corridor.

The future plans for my treatment are looking positive, with the government enabling better access to diabetes technology and better self monitoring strategies. This is still not in an ideal state, but I appreciate the steps which have been taken so far and the hard work currently going on to improve patient care.