Late onset type 1 diabetes?

[RugbyMama]

Husband diagnosed with cirrhosis a couple of months ago, fibroscan reading confirmed this but no varices and no ascites. Waiting to hear back further from gastroenterologist on this.

In the meantime, the metformin he had been prescribed for T2 diabetes didn't seem to be working, still had all the symptoms, still losing significant weight - on average, over 1 stone a month. On Monday our GP was concerned enough to send him to hospital and after a whole day of hanging around and a terrifying blood glucose reading of 24.7 they diagnosed late onset type 1 diabetes. More blood taken to see if this is autoimmune related or liver related but he is also being investigated for haemochromotosis as he has the right cultural background and some of the markers

Anyone got any experience of liver causing type 1 diabetes? Just wondering how common this is.

[CHanse]

Has your husband been diagnosed with any pancreatic problems? It could be type 3c diabetes. This happened to a freind of mine who has cirrhosis and is now insulin dependant. It would be worth asking the doctor or if he has been assigned a specialist diabetic nurse the question. They will probably adjust his insulin until it stabilises.

[Readlots in reply to CHanse]

Hi, no experience of liver disease causing T2 diabetes but I’m sure there is an autoimmune link in our family. My Mum had PBC ( autoimmune liver disease) I have PBC / Autoimmune Hepatitis crossover (liver) and both kids have T1 diabetes. They say that if you have 1 autoimmuner husband disease you are more susceptible to others which is probably why they are now checking your husband for autoimmune liver disease. It’s not that one causes the other, just that of your immune system is attacking one organ, it might be attacking another too.That’s my simplistic way of looking at it. Not fair at all!

[RugbyMama in reply to CHanse]

No he hasnt. MRCP scan showed no anomalies.

[CHanse]

You mentioned haemochromatosis. Type 3c diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops when another disease causes damage to the pancreas and includes haemochromatosis amongs other things.

[RugbyMama in reply to CHanse]

Yes I had read about that. Currently beibg treated as type 1 until blood tests come back, from what ive read treatment for type 1 and type 3c is broadly similar.

Hes had more energy, slept better and been generally more like "himself" more in the last 2 days than in the past 6 months. God bless our NHS!

[AyrshireK]

There is a specific type of diabetes (hepatogenous diabetes) which differs from type 2 and is actually caused by having cirrhosis. My hubby was investigated for this a few years ago.