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Ep 160 - Success With LADA Diabetes with Linnea May Huxford: Why Proper Testing Matters
Description
What happens when you're told you have type 2 diabetes… but your body keeps telling you something isn't right?
In today's conversation, I'm joined by Linnea May Huxford, author of the book Success with LADA Diabetes, as we unpack one of the most misunderstood forms of diabetes: LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults).
Linnea shares her personal story of being misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes at 31 years old, despite having classic symptoms of autoimmune diabetes. We discuss the emotional toll of delayed diagnosis, the importance of proper testing, and why so many adults are still falling through the cracks.
Inside this episode, we cover:
- What LADA diabetes actually is
- Why adults are often misdiagnosed as type 2
- Important testing: antibody panels + C-peptide
- Why insulin is not something to fear
- CGMs, pumps, and learning to "sugar surf"
- Hormones, perimenopause, and insulin resistance
- Mental health and diabetes burnout
- The difference between managing diabetes and micromanaging it
- Why women especially experience more unpredictable blood sugars during hormone shifts
- The importance of community, advocacy, and self-trust
This conversation is compassionate, educational, and deeply validating for anyone living with insulin-dependent diabetes—especially women navigating midlife hormone changes.
Linnea also shares why she believes earlier diagnosis and awareness could dramatically change long-term outcomes for millions of people living with LADA worldwide.
Connect with Linnea May Huxford:
Her book: Success with LADA Diabetes: Achieving Optimal Health with Diet, Exercise, and Insulin
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LinneaMayHuxford
Website: InsulinPumpLife.com
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Connect with Melissa Slemp:
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Purchase Melissa's book, Highs, Lows, & Hormones
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Visit diabetessisters.org to join. It's free, easy to use, and a great place to find community