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Any Type 3C people out there?

Hi, not quite the same condition. I have been type 1 diabetic for 66 years and have several other medical issue caused by being on insulin for so many decades. Having lost over 4 stone in weight over a period of 18 months and several negative scans, I saw a new GP last December who sent me a poo test to check on enzymes produced by the pancreas. The test was positive, ie a very low enzyme production and I saw a pancreatic gastronomy consultant in January. He prescribed 9 creon tablets daily, 3 with each meal.
Two weeks ago I had a review appointment with him and he asked me when I was next due to see my diabetic consultant. I told him the first week in August and he recommended I mention to the diabetologist that he (PANCREATIC consultant) thought I might have Tyoe 3c in addition to Type 1 diabetes. My symptoms suggest type 3c but he is not a trained expert in diabetes and should seek advice and discuss with the diabetologist.
 
Jdi said:
Hi everyone, i am Type 3c due to acute pancreatitis and then cysts on my pancreas which wiped out my pancreas in 2019. Now i am insulin dependent and also take creon with all meals. Just wondered if there is anyone else on this forum with similar condition.
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Hi Jdi. I am pleased to meet you.

I was one of those guys who never got ill and whenever there was anything going around, I would get it less severely. 16th March 2026, all that changed. Acute Pancreatitis which lead to Type 3c. I was admitted to hospital, unable to breathe. Immediately sent up to ICU (where I spent 5 days) and then 26 days on a surgical ward, most of the first 2 weeks spent in the toilet. It was a nightmare.

I now take Lantus and Novorapid (which stopped working 2 weeks ago, so now exercise to keep going high) as well as Creon with all meals. I have lost a LOT of weight. Until my gallbladder is removed, I am on an almost no fat diet. Even soup with tiny amounts of rapeseed oil, causes pain. I have a large abdominal cyst and necrosis of my pancreas.

I have been met with complete ignorance from the NHS diabetic nurses. I started with a new one yesterday who admitted she had never heard of Type 3c but that I should treat it as Type 1! I'm now looking at seeing someone privately, who does get it.

I don't even know how I got the gallstones as I didn't drink, ate healthily and exercised. But there it is. It's trying to adapt to this new life, which I'm not enamoured of at the moment.
 
Jdi said:
Hi everyone, i am Type 3c due to acute pancreatitis and then cysts on my pancreas which wiped out my pancreas in 2019. Now i am insulin dependent and also take creon with all meals. Just wondered if there is anyone else on this forum with similar condition.
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JDI, sorry to hear that, but you're not alone! I've got type 3C after pancreatitis too, and need Creon, insulin with a BGM on my arm, and a Sugar Pixel for vibration alarms when I go hypo at night (I'm deaf as a post when my hearing aids are recharging! :D

But you're so right, most of the diabetic nurses I've seen either haven't heard of type 3C or think it's like type 1. It's not! It's nowhere near as manageable, and levels go all over the place erratically and for no obvious reason, and then they say "haven't you been managing the levels?" Well, of course not!

Even the diabetic people online don't seem to realise the different challenges? That's why these forums are best place for advice from other similar sufferers, I've found?!
 
Jdi said:
Thanks for the response Civilised Devil, sorry to here about your awful experience. Sounds similar to what i went through in 2019. They could not save my pancreas to much damage just head and tail left and still 1 cyst. Do you suffer with wild swings in your blood glucose levels hypos and hypers?
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Oh those wild swings on levels are so annoying, aren't they? And really frustrating!
 
Yep 3c and the "diabetic nurse has a blank look and my GP has zero idea
I take three oral diabetic tabs as I'm not too bad yet after Acute phase in 2010
12 Creon or Nutrixyme a day ( depending which is available)
 
Type 3 from Sept 2021, when unknown gallstones decided to travel up pancreatic duct and wipe it out. No insulin being produced, I’m told the pancreas is like a fish, and all I have is the fishes tail along with a cyst. Prior to all that was fit as could be. On Creon, Fiasp and toujeo. Live changing, but overall there are good/average days with Blood sugars etc. Hospitalised in Mar when cyst decided to flare up, but you get to know your body, so when sugars were through the roof, any amount of insulin made no difference, it was time to go to quack. Jdl, there is a good life still to have but it takes some managing, and you’ll have your frustrations, but you can do it. Don’t lose heart, and post on here if you’re struggling. Steve
 
Type 3c → not autoimmune; diabetes caused by physical damage to the pancreas (pancreatitis, surgery, cancer, cystic fibrosis

LADA → slow, smouldering autoimmune destruction of beta cells in adults.

Classic Type 1 → fast, aggressive autoimmune destruction of beta cells.
 
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