[wanwan]

Hi,

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes four months ago at the age of 34. I have several questions:
1) How can you be sure that you have type 1? I didn't have any symptoms before that listed for diabetes. I started vomiting and I thought it might be food poisoning, so I waited for two days before I went to the hospital. I couldn't hold down anything during that two days, but I could drink orange juice and Gatorade. When I was in the hospital I was very dehydrated, and my blood sugar was 600. But once they gave me enough IV, it dropped to 300. They did a c-peptide test on me when I was on insulin, and the number was low. I learned that C-peptide is co-produced with insulin in your body, but when you are on insulin, you body of course won't make c-peptide, and it would be low, right? My GAD is negative, but my endocrinologist refuse to order other antibody tests for me.
2) How to find a good endocrinologist? I don't click well with my current endocrinologist. I have been learning about diabetes in the past four months, and came up with lots of questions (I myself is a research scientist, so I like to question about stuff if I don't understand it). My endocrinologist was very impatient in my last visit, and yelled at me that she knew all these and I didn't have to tell her. She also refused to prescribe insulin pen for me. I use Kaiser, and live in LA. I talked to the membership office, and they told me that my insurance cover the pen, as long as the doctor prescribe it and give a medical reason. I wonder if anybody has any experience in dealing with this.

Thanks a lot!