Over the years, we've blogged about diabetes and diabetes prevention. Every year, I have my children screened as part of the Diabetes TrialNet study. If the participant tests negative for the antibodies which signal the potential onset of the disease, he/she receives a letter in the mail. If the test is positive for one of the 5 antibodies, they will call you.
This year, we got the call.
I was driving back from a day at the beach with friends. Since I was driving, my friend answered the phone and put it on speaker. Once the caller introduced herself, I knew instantly what it meant. Since I was driving, I told her I would call back when I got home in 30 minutes.
Two out of my three daughters were in the van. They knew what it meant too. One of them complained, "Mom, you could have at least asked who?"
This was followed by, "Mom, who do you think it is?"
I answered, "I hope it is daughter #2, but I think it is daughter #3."
I don't wish any of my children to be diabetic, but daughter #2 would be the perfect patient. She already eats right and is very self disciplined.
We returned home and I made the return call. I was right. It was daughter #3. Of the 5 antibodies, she tested positive to one, GAD (Glutamic acid decarboxylase) antibodies. Because her test result was so close to the cut off line, she was retested. The test results will come back in about 4 weeks.
Currently, there are no preventive studies for GADA positive patients. In the meantime, we are looking into some diet and lifestyle changes.
I'm not really freaked out or anything. The onset of diabetes could be years down the line or maybe never. The technology is getting better and better. If she does develop diabetes, she can still have a "normal" if slightly inconvenienced life.
The day after we got the call, I had my regularly scheduled appointment with my endocrinologist. I told the doctor, I'm about to become the perfect diabetic patient. I've got someone paying close attention to how I deal with diabetes.
If you have a family history of Type 1 diabetes, there are quite a few preventative studies looking for participants.
6 comments:
You must read the Schwarzbein Principle by Diana Scwarzbein. One of the dad's in our homeschool group has type 1, and within the last year he read this book, changed his diet, and has subsequently lost 40 lbs. He has a ton more energy now, his cholesterol and triglycerides normalized, and he only needs to use a third as much insulin as he used to.
I don't usually go around giving advice to people I don't even know, but after seeing such a dramatic difference in him, I've become a bit of a Schwarzbein evangalist!
Best wishes to you and your family.
Diana
Thanks for the tip. I hadn't heard of this particular book, but we've been looking at an anti-inflammatory style diet.
Also look into the connections between gluten and diabetes.
I just ran across your blog this morning, I wanted some new ideas for this upcoming year. I'm looking forward to exploring more, already your links look great.
And this is very off-topic, but I'm starting to research low dose naltrexone for a different autoimmune disorder that my mom has. Not sure if you've looked at it at all, I've seen mention of T1 diabetes and LDN, but I'm sure you're far more hooked into a good network on the topic.
Best of luck to you, looking forward to more blog posts.
-Tanya
(And PS--your anti-spam visual is very, very difficult to decipher, I've failed 3 times now and I've got an average-sized laptop screen)
It's me again. I ran across this article tonight while looking for something else and thought of you.
http://glutendoctors.blogspot.com/2012/06/can-gluten-free-diet-cure-type-1.html
Fatcat,
Yes, we are moving toward gluten free, lower gluten diet.
Tanya,
I have a hard time with the anti-spam visual too.
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