I have been type 1 diabetic for 30yrs. The passed 5 yrs I have been getting fatter and fatter. I have been to see my diabetic nurse who has tested for Hypothyroidism and said the blood test came back as borderline. I have these symptoms, I am now at least 3 stone heavier, I have also seen a dietician who said there is nothing wrong with my diet but would like to see me add an apple or fruit daily. i eat healthy and my diabeties is well managed and i dont inject a huge amount of insulin per day. I can sleep at anytime anywhere, i try not to sit on a comfy chair because i will drop off to sleep. I do have chronic lymphoedema and wear stockings to help with the swelling in my legs and prevent anymore ulcers. I have terrible pain in my elbows. I walk at least 14 miles per week if not more, because i train Labradors for a living. I am 48yrs old. Do i go and see my doctor and see if he can put me on medication, or is it all in my head and its just all the other health issues i have?
Hi Sharon, have you got the actual results of the blood tests with the ranges? Would be interested to see what your diabetic nurse means by 'borderline'. People with auto immune diseases, such as diabetes, are more likely to develop other auto immune diseases, such as Hashimoto's hypothyroiditis, where the body attacks the thyroid gland.
Hi Sharon, I also have Thyroid disease and I am Diabetic. I am also an RN. Diabetes is not auto-immune, it is caused by the pancreas not making enough insulin. The reason for this can be a family history of it. Also as we age our bodies change and some people don't utilize the insulin their body makes correctly. Thyroid disease can be auto-immune or can happen from other factors like nodules on the gland itself. You should have a TSH level done and a T3 & T4 level. The T3 & T 4 levels allow a doctor to see if your thyroid gland is making the correct horomones. Some common signs are tired all the time, weight gain, intolerence to cold temps, muscle aches, confusion or brain fog. Also a good idea to have a B-12 level and Vit D level done. Now Diabetes that is not controlled will give you weight gain, edema, and in some cases sleepiness. Have your A1C levels been under 7.0? What is your fasting blood glucose? Are you on oral pills or insulin only? Have you changed your diet? So many things need to be checked, like RBC count and WBC count. I have been a diabetic since 2002, but my thyroid disease came on in my mid 20's and I am now 54. I hope you do not have thyroid problems, but have the above blood drawn to have peace of mind. Keep in touch.
Thank you Scazzoh and ShellyC19 for your swift replies. I have already phoned my Diabetic Nurse and awaiting for her to call me back. I will ask her to fill out the paperwork for other bloods to be done. Once the results are back i wil then make an appt with my GP. I will let you know how i get on.
Hi Shelley, great advice. Just one thing? I've just checked and type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease:
'Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease results when the body's system for fighting infection (the immune system) turns against a part of the body. In diabetes, the immune system attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and destroys them'.
Hi sharon, I'd like to add a few things to the good advice given by Shelley and Scazzoh. Firstly, it's also worth getting your adrenal glands checked. Ask your doctor/nurse which test this is (I think it's cortisol levels) - Shelley might be able to advise. Secondly, whatever the results of the blood tests, it would be worth getting them repeated in 3 months to see if the levels are stable or changing. Thirdly, ask your doctor if they are willing to prescribe a therapeutic dose of 25mcg thyroxine to see whether your symptoms improve. Also worth asking to be referred to an endocrinologist. All the best, let us know how you get on.
I am now waiting to see a doctor to have all bloods done including HBA1C for my Diabetes. The earliest appointment is 11 May can you believe so as soon as i have had a chat with the doctor and had bloods done ill let you all know.
Hi Everyone , Im new to the forum and I'm sorry for crashing into an on going discussion but I'm hoping someone can give me a little feedback. Quite frankly Ive been quite poorly and now I think I'm being viewed as A hypocondriac, but I am convinced I have a thyroid issue . My Doctor and now it seems my Endocrinologist are wiping there hands of me as they see no underlying endocrine cause. I do have a pituitary macroadenoma but The Endocrinologist says my bloods dont show anything wrong. Sorry to bore everyone but a brief synopsis-
Im losing my hair
Ive put on 3 stone in 3 months despite to change in my diet
I have poor memory
Im exhausted all the time
I get headaches
Erratic body temperature
By late afternoon everyday Im getting cramps in my lower legs and my feet to the extent I can barely walk
Ive had bloods done and the only results I have are
March 15 TSH 3.9
Free T4 13.6
Dec 14 TSH 2.1
Free T4 12.5
My recent bloods I believe show my TSH at about 2.9 again
My Vit D keeps falling it was 17 and after 3 months supplimentation Im at 51 - this is the second time it has dropped.
Please - has anyone any input ?
Thank you
Hello Barbara, if someone is type 1 (meaning the person was born with the disease or juvenille diabetes) then that can be auto-immune but if you get it later in life, then it is Type 2 and is not auto-immune. Most people are type 2.
Hello Michelle, There are 2 horomones your thyroid makes T3 & T4 and the level of those needs to be checked and is much different than the TSH blood test. Sometimes a person has low T3 for example and then your own thyroid tries to make up the missing hormone but it does not work. It sounds like you have a lot of the symptoms which can be losing hair, easily gaining weight, dry skin, painful muscles, constipation, loss of menstrual cycle, low vit D, loss of energy and brain fog, lower pulse, feeling cold....now everyone is different, so you may have 6 symptoms and another person could have 10 symptoms. Please see a good Endocrinologist (they specialize in endocrine glands), and have all of the tests redone. Your TSH level is only 1 test. you need to have a sed. rate test, T3 & T4, Vit D level, B-12 level, reg. full blood count including all minerals & lipid panels. some other conditions are fibromyalgia, cushing's disease, Lupus and arthritis has a myraid of conditions along with that. It sounds like you need to keep a log or journal of your symptoms and maybe see if you have a family history of thyroid problems and tell the doctor that. Be your own advocate and see a better doctor. I hope this helps.
Hello Shelley, Wikipedia snd diabetes uk both suggest that adults can get type 1 diabetes: 'Latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA), often also late-onset autoimmune diabetes of adulthood or aging,[1] slow onset type 1 diabetes or diabetes type 1.5 is a form of diabetes mellitus type 1 that occurs in adults, often with a slower course of onset'.
Hi Barbara, I am an RN and I live in USA. I also have Diabetes. I agree if you were born with Type 1 it can be autoimmune. In USA we use Type 1 or Type 2 typically. We do not use a 1.5. I suppose you could get a very late onset well past the normal time. In USA we use Under 20 most likely Type 1 and if mid life say 40-65 Type 2 typically. Most people fall into the 40-65 year old range. I suppose if it came out so late in life with no symptoms until say age 80, it could happen. It is not the normal but I agree it could happen. I was in my 40's when diagnosed. My father was in his early 60's when he was diagnosed. I know research into it, has shown a gene in type 1. In type 2 more of a problem with our bodies having high BMI or fats in us and the breakdown/loss of beta cells making new insulin in the pancreas. I even heard that a women who is pregnant makes new insulin making cells in the pancreas to support the pregnancy. I do enjoy this forum as we can share info.
Hello Shelley, it looks like this is anither case of US and UK having different definitions and approaches??
I agree the cross country input into these forums is really helpful. 
Hi Shelly,
I'm a little late in coming into this discussion but when I read your discussions, I wanted to share that I'm in Canada and was diagnosed with type one diabetes in the hospital at the age of 54. I have no relations with either type one or type two, (either in Canada or Europe) had never been overweight and had normal blood sugars three months prior to diagnosis. I had all of the classic symptons and the C peptide and other blood tests confirmed the diagnoses.
I also had Hashimoto disease at the age of 39.
According to my doctors and specialist, they were very surprised but told me that it is unusual but can happen.
Cheers,
Pam
Hello Pamela:
Sorry to hear you have Hashimoto's and now Diabetes. I have both also. I am now 54 but Diabetes was diagnosed in 2002. My Hashimoto's was when I was 27.
In the USA we tend to say just type 1 or type 2, but I agree some people can have a type 1.5 and it is autoimmune case of Diabetes. Back when I was in Nursing school in the 1980's, we only used Type 1 (congential ) and Type 2 Adult onset. So I learned that there is another form of it.
It is unusual but I guess it can happen. Again I am sorry you have it. Hope you stay well. XO Shelly
Thanks for the post. Actually I was 54 ten years ago so I have been living with Type one for 10 years. I'm doing well. My A1C has been within range for more than a year. My insulin needs are around 25 units a day and have been the same for the last 10 years. (including meals and snacks) I have no other complications.
My understanding from my medical team is that I probably always had the autoimmune problem.(This is possible because there are several autoimmune diseases in my family.) It just needed a trigger. It might have been that at the time I was teaching at a local primary school and that year we had quite a few nasty virus related diseases running through the school. (more that usual)
I didn't hear about Lada for a few years. My specialist just called me a type one. Now, 1.5 does crop up from time to time but my case still seems to lean more towards type one. Except for the age factor, none of the other symtoms match with the other types.
Hope that things continue to go well with you.
Cheers,
Pam
Hello Pamela:
They say Epstein-Barr virus (also called MONO), triggers Hashimoto's and I had that in my 20's. They did a study on it years ago.
However, I found an Aunt on my Father's side with Hashimoto's and several grandparents with Diabetes and my father had Adult onset type 2. One grandparent had Rheumatoid Arthritis but no Diabetes.
I would not be surprised to learn it can be triggered by a virus or even pregnancy or any other stressor to the body.
Glad your A1C is good. It measures the amount of sugar coating a red blood cell, and if it is under 7.0 for us Diabetes people that is good. I watch what I eat like a hawk. LOL. I am on both oral pill and a bit of insulin. As I am aging, it gets harder to control. I do my best with it and so far - so good. My A1C was 6.6 and that is pretty good for me.
My brother-in-law is Type 1 and he has the insulin pump. You only have to change the needle every 3 days and it is a great invention. Thanks for telling me about yourself and your type of Diabets. I find it very interesting and never knew anybody with 1.5. Stay well, Shelly
Thanks for replying. I have been on an insulin pump for 6 years. Now I also monitor myself from time to time with a glucose monitor. (another inset) But it helps me adjust myself from time to time. (It is expensive.)
Hope you and your brother-in-law stay well. (As well as all of our family with their different problems.)
Cheers,
Pam
Hello Pamela:
Oh wow, so you have the pump also. My brother-in-law had to pay $2,500.00 plus his medical insurance helped for his pump. I think the total was $6,000.00 dollars in all. The pump is his lifesaver. He had so much trouble getting his insulin correct and he was given the opportunity to be able to get the pump, and it has helped him greatly.
I am glad you have one. It really is a good invention. Yes, I hope all of us stay well. God Bless, Shelly