Results of Pancreas test.

June 12 2019

The Dr. just called with the results of the pancreas test.
There are two numbers of interest in the results. C-peptides and GAD.

C-peptides are the links between different parts of an insulin molecule. The number of them in the blood is an indication of the amount of insulin the pancreas produced.
GAD is an Anti-body that attacks the pancreas. Sometimes the body decides that the pancreas is a bad thing, and it makes anti-bodies to destroy it.

The range of C-peptides in the blood should be between 350 and 1400. Mine is 450. This means that my pancreas is producing insulin, but near the minimum levels.

The GAD levels should be between 0 and 5. Greater than 5, means there are antibodies attacking the pancreas. My GAD levels are 935.
My pancreas is under severe attack, and will gradually reduce production of all insulin. Because of the high GAD count, my pancreas should stop all insulin production within weeks to a few months.
The term for this type of diabetes is LADA. (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adulthood). It is a Type 2 diabetes that becomes a Type 1.

To help my failing pancreas, the Dr gave me an insulin pen. It has some slow release insulin that helps the pancreas. It is slowly released over 24 hours. I am supposed to give myself a shot every evening at the same time with my supper.
He started me with 6ui per shot. the term ui (Unit Injection) is a standard, but arbitrary unit of insulin.

If my morning fasting BG is above 7 mmol/L (126 mg/dl) for 3 days in a row, I must increase the dose by 2ui per shot.

I see the Dr again in a week. Next week is CT scan and Sonogram and a visit to my Oncologist. I need a prosthetic adjustment also.