I Was Misdiagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes — My Real Story of LADA Diabetes, Mental Health & Insulin

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAzkbz56oxU

I’m sharing my personal story of being diagnosed with LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults) — a form of Type 1 diabetes that is often misdiagnosed as Type 2. In this video, I talk about the early signs, how I got really sick, the mental health toll of not feeling heard by doctors, and the turning point when I finally got the insulin I needed.

If you’ve ever felt confused, overwhelmed, or alone on your diabetes journey — you’re not alone. I created this video to raise awareness about LADA, help others advocate for themselves, and let people know there is hope once you get the right diagnosis and treatment.

📌 What I cover in this video:
• How my symptoms started
• The misdiagnosis as Type 2 diabetes
• The emotional and mental health struggles
• How I finally got diagnosed with LADA
• Why insulin made such a difference
• Tips for others navigating a similar journey

Transcript

1. My Story LADA Diabetes Linnea "Lin" May Huxford
2. Linnea "Lin" May Huxford InsulinPumpLife.com Success with LADA Diabetes: Achieving Optimal Health with Diet, Exercise, and Insulin
3. 2014 ~ Watkins Glen ~
4. I realized I had "Classic" Diabetes Symptoms • Very Thirsty • Frequent Urination • Feeling Tired and Weak • Losing weight without trying I bought a Glucose Meter at the pharmacy and found that my blood glucose was VERY HIGH. NOTE: With high blood glucose like this, there is a risk of the life-threatening condition Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) - seek treatment immediately!
5. My A1C was off the charts!
6. Treated as Type 2 Diabetes Low Carb Diet and Exercise
7. My Blood Glucose did get better... at first
8. up to... 20% Misdiagnosed as Type 2 Diabetes, may have LADA Diabetes
9. When the Metformin Stopped working... • Prescribed Glipizide, a sulfonylurea, which is NOT recommended for LADA Diabetes. • Glipizide didn't work, then prescribed Basal Insulin • Insulin Syringes were the wrong size, making accurate dosing difficult • Got a Referral to an Endocrinologist • Tested my C-Peptide level to see how much insulin my body was making • Blood tests for a Diabetes Autoantibodies Panel, including GAD Antibodies • Endocrinologist diagnosed me with "LADA Diabetes," treated as Type 1, with insulin
11. This "Junior" Humalog Insulin Pen solved the issue I needed insulin at mealtime too. I was so sensitive that I only needed a half unit for snacks... or 1.5 units for a meal.
12. With Insulin, Came the Problem of Needing to Test my Blood Glucose Often Challenges • Low blood sugar would cause anxiety.... • Was I anxious or having low blood sugar? • Needed to do a "finger prick" to get a blood drop to test with a glucose meter • Glucose meter showed a single number -- no trends • Would eat something with sugar in it to correct blood glucose... and would over correct, staying high... Getting a CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) was incredibly insightful! I could suddenly SEE what was happening, in real time! Freestyle Libre
13. Multiple Daily Injections (MDI) • Very empowering, I finally had the tools to lower my blood sugar. • No longer thinking it's my fault for having high blood sugar. • I can give my body the insulin it needs. • However, injections are challenging. • Getting the insulin dosage right is difficult. • Most foods require an insulin shot, so it was restrictive in what and when I could eat.
14. Switching to an Insulin Pump for Automation... Medtronic Minimed 780G Insulin Pump
15. Now... Less time thinking about my diabetes... InsulinPumpLife.com
16. Some Excellent Days, Some Challenging Days
17. Flaky Pancreas • The story began at least 10 years earlier • High Sugar foods like Orange Juice and Fast Acting Carbs like Potato Soup made me feel ICKY! • After exercise, I felt SHAKY like I needed to eat something quickly • Reactive hypoglycemia where blood sugar would drop after eating • Mood swings... Could this have been from crashing blood sugar levels? • Recurrent yeast infections
18. Thank you For More, Please Check out My Book https://lada-diabetes.com/book