I have type 3c diabetes. I am going to be completely honest here and say I am 100% positive I developed it due to alcohol abuse. Thanks to AA I haven't had a drink in nearly 12 years, and it's 11 years since I had a bout of pancreatitis. I was only diagnosed with diabetes in April and initially treated unsuccessfully for type 2. I have now switched to insulin injections and have been on them just over a week, so far my BS levels are fluctuating wildly.
The strangest aspect of all this for me is why I developed type 3c now - why not years ago? I can also suggest that alcohol abuse and Type 3c are probably a lot more common than people might think. I attend a small AA group with about 40 long term members. Three of us have type 3c due to chronic pancreatitis attacks brought on by excessive alcohol abuse in the bad old days.
I am not suggesting for a second that all type 3c's are alcoholics! but it is interesting that there is so little said about it. Most are aware of liver damage associated with alcohol, and some will know it is a cause of pancreatitis, but I have never heard a warning that its possible to become insulin dependant.
Pancreas problems start for many reasons, no one can judge another, to admit alcohol was the cause of yours is very brave, fortunately pancreatitis is fairly rare though 90% of sufferers have alcohol problems, around 5% is caused by gallstones and the other 5% is autoimmune or other cause.
It depends on the damage an acute attack causes, some people will become diabetic early some it may take years and others never, only 5% will become diabetic. It is a disease that no one has heard of until your laying in agony and a helpful doctor tells you what it is and a nurse says her uncle had it.
I think we will see a big rise in cases as it seems young people now drink lots more than previous generations.
I don't think anyone knows how alcohol can damage your body years later.
In my case I hadn't had a drink in over 12years, gave it up as I hardly touched it so it wasn't a hardship, and I have never had a reason why it happened, though I had severe digestive problems as a teenager, which with the benefit of hindsight, was probably panc related. My consultant now has decided to look into genetics.
Type 3c do struggle with keeping tight control, lots of hypos and false hypos with the odd hyper thrown in just to keep you on your toes.
It is important to count carbs, and eat less of them, cutting out, bread, potatoes, rice etc helps, though low carbing is not great as a type3c cannot eat lots of protein and fats
Edit have you joined the pancreatitis support network very good support.
http://www.pancreatitis-forum.org.uk/