Becoming type 3c

[Deleted member 589979]

Hi, I have posted in the past but I’ve had to create a new ID.
Following acute pancreatitis years ago and approximately 15 years of chronic pancreatitis, an MRI 18 months ago showed my pancreas was “calcified and shrunken” and the consultant told me that at some point I would become a type 3c diabetic.
I was told to occasionally take my fasting blood sugar which is now rising into the 7s. Today, 3 hours after eating 2 pieces of toast it was 10.3.
Currently I am away from home and my GP wants blood tests when I get home but this won’t be for another month.
At the moment I have UTI symptom. Sometimes this is non bacterial prostatitis, but on this occasion I also have an unquenchable thirst.

My first question is, could such relatively low BS readings cause the frequent urination and thirst?

Second question is at what fasting glucose level will my oncoming type 3c diabetes be diagnosed?

(I am very diabetic aware as my daughter has been T1 for many years and my son has become T2 recently)

TIA

 

[EllieM]

Hi @Xigman and welcome (back) to the forums. We aren't allowed to diagnose here so I have to be a little careful what I say.

Normally sugar starts passing into the urine when your bg reaches 10 (ish) . So my guess is that you start feeling more thirsty then. So I wonder if you are missing some highs with your two bg tests?

However UTIs can cause thirst (and infections also raise blood sugar) so it's also possible that your issues are a UTI and not a progression (yet) to diabetes.

Can UTIs make you more thirsty?

Our nutritionist Emma Thornton details some of reasons why UTIs could be making you more thirsty, and what can be done to help.

www.avogel.co.uk

But on the other hand UTIs often occur when you run overly high blood sugars (speaking from personal experiences) so there is a bit of a chicken and egg situation here. And of course, it could be something else altogether that is causing your symptoms.

As you are familiar with diabetes you probably know to check for ketones. Overly high blood sugars for a month might make you thirsty, but shouldn't kill you, but if your insulin production has reduced to the point where you go into diabetic ketoacidosis then you need to go to hospital immediately.

As regards the point you get your T3c diagnosis, I'd expect that that'll depend on your hba1c, which seems to be the main method for UK diagnoses, 48mmol/moll being the magical diabetic number. However, if you were in the US they'd reckon a fasting bg of 7 or more was diabetic? (Disclaimer, I'm not a doctor so could be wrong).

Diabetes - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic

www.mayoclinic.org

And this article is pretty good

Type 3c Diabetes

Type 3c diabetes develops when your pancreas experiences damage, such as from chronic pancreatitis or cystic fibrosis.

my.clevelandclinic.org

(Uses US units so you need to divide the bg level by 18 - which again has 7mmol/L as the dividing point). But I wouldn't assume that they will put you on insulin straight away, there are other diabetes drugs they may try first.

Hopefully some T3c folk will be along soon who can give you some more knowledgeable advice.

But please consider seeing an emergency doctor or ringing 111 if your symptoms don't improve - a month could be a long time with those symptoms. And honestly, going now might be better. (Disclaimer again, not a doctor)

 

[Deleted member 589979]

Many, thanks. I’ve actually found a place locally that may do private Hba1c testing.

I’ll take at look those links. I will also keep a close eye on things. I have already got ketone test strips as advised and the readings are fine. Also on the general urine test strips things look OK. There is often blood and protein (but not at the moment) which can either be from non bacterial prostatitis or apparently from my newly diagnosed chronic kidney disease.
It‘s really difficult having so many conditions that have similar symptoms (apart from severe arthritis, ischaemic bowel disease fybromyalgia !) and I don’t want unnecessary antibiotics or an untreated UTI.

I’ll see what my sugars do a bit more often anyway now and keep testing for ketones.

And of course, like many folks here, I am worried that I can’t get hold of Creon as it has been one of the most transformative medicines I’ve ever taken!

Thanks again