Potential autoimmune diabetes in adults, or LADA, is, in short, a relatively rare diabetes. It is often referred to as type 1.5 diabetes.
Many people may be misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetes because they do not require insulin therapy in the short term after diagnosis. It is also diagnosed only during adulthood.
We sat with 41-year-old Billy Rigby, who lives in Pennsylvania, who has officially lived with Ladha diabetes for the past two years. In 2018 he was told he had type 2 diabetes.
This form of diabetes shares the properties of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. 2-12% of all cases of diabetes are LADA, many of which are initially misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
read more: Ladha Diabetes (Potential Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults).
What situation led to the initial diagnosis of Type 2?
Rigby was initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2018. He remembers this way.
“Emotionally, I was devastated. I was confused and hurt at first. I felt like I had everything right, I was losing weight.
He continues,
“After discussing with my health team, I learned that it is genetics. Unfortunately, that wasn’t what I did. Call it genetics and call it bad luck, but it wasn’t my fault. I couldn’t lose it physically, so I couldn’t lose it.
Were there any warning signs that something was wrong?
Rigby says he knew something was wrong after living with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis for almost four years.
“There were so many signs that something was wrong, but at first I didn’t know it was a sign. It was a scary part because the summer was so active.
“The urination and constant thirst were when I was wondering if something was wrong, and then I began to crave milk. I’m not a milk drinker, but I felt it was good to drink that summer.”
He says,
“Weight loss began to be concerns towards the end of summer 2022. I was physically having problems too. Those that were easily lifted up before were now giving problems. I was just standing and tired.
“My vision was blurry. I was very sick. I couldn’t even push Gatorade or water. When they admitted me, my glucose was 792 mg/dl. I didn’t remember much about it.
He continues,
“I woke up a day and a half later. They told me I was in DKA (diabetic ketosidosis). I was (ladha). I didn’t know where I was, so the last thing I remember was driving to Ohio to my next job site.”
How did you discover that you were misdiagnosed?
As time progressed prior to ICU visits, Rigby’s blood sugar levels were no longer managed through diet and exercise alone. He says,
“Walking up in an out-of-state ICU was rarely the way I discovered it. We had a genetic test, when it became official. The cells that make my insulin were slowly removed by the immune system and I became a lad.”
In addition to adding an insulin injection to his routine, he had to be stricter about counting carbs and measuring what he was eating as someone in the ladder.
According to Rigby, it was a big adjustment.
What challenges have you encountered with the healthcare system?
Rigby says it was difficult to navigate the healthcare system.
“There are far more challenges than expected, from getting an insulin pump or insulin on time to getting certain things not covered in time. It didn’t take a day or two without an insulin pump or insulin.
He continues,
“Living with LADA and all the medications and devices is much more difficult than the way I lived with Type 2 diabetes, where I managed it with diet and exercise.”
Is there a difference between management and treatment after receiving the correct diagnosis?
Rigby says,
“I know better about the food I eat, and I know even more than when I was diagnosed with Type 2. I count more carbohydrates, do certain exercises, and explain more about things that try to waste insulin.
What would you recommend to others who you think may have been misdiagnosed as well?
Rigby says that if you feel something is wrong, you need to empower yourself.
“Reach out to your PCP and let them know that you feel you may have other issues. My PCP (great, I love her) didn’t know about genetic testing that could tell you if you’re a Radha or not.
He continues,
“They say there are only two ways to discover if you’re a ladha. It’s a genetic blood test or, like in my case, you have a medical emergency. Your body knows it feels different.
Do you have any advice from a medical professional?
Rigby says,
“If you have a diabetic patient, it’s in everyone’s best interest to know if it helps them achieve the best care.”
“And just understand. My healthcare team shows that they understand what I’m going through and show empathy and care. Take care of T2D patients and realize that they can actually be lads in their 30s and 40s.”
Finally, he says
“If you are diagnosed with Radha, your life will change, but it will not end. This cannot be done. This is not easy, but you can do this! We can all scare the diagnosis.
Final thoughts
Billy Rigby’s journey with Radha highlights an important aspect of diabetes care: the importance of accurate diagnosis. Misdiagnosis can lead to years of inappropriate treatment and unnecessary complications.
For those experiencing symptoms that are not explained in the current diagnosis, his story underscores the value of self-advocacy. If something is felt, it is important to seek further evaluation.
With proper diagnosis and treatment planning, people with diabetes of all kinds can live a fulfilling life despite the hurdles they may face first.
