Type 3c - how many are we?

[miahara]

Hi all. I was diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic 10 years ago. Had medications wmetc but had bad tummy problems. Eventually found that my pancreas was not producing enzymes, was blocked etc so now take creon for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Have done this for over 6 years but recently my blood sugar levels were getting higher

and nothing I could do would bring them down. Couldn't tolerate metformin and tried dapagliflozin but that upset me eventually too. Put on glicazide etc and tried a low carb diet but couldn't bring blood sugars down HBA1c was 74.
Referred to diabetic clinic and now on insulin Humulin 1 and 1 glicazide at night. It is better but I do spike after breakfast. Hope it will stabilise. Early stages on this, and have been told I am a Type 3c!!

I wonder if you'd be better on a basal+ bolus insulin regimen as it does sound like you are insulin deficient due to your pancreas being compromised. A C peptide test would provide an indication as to how much insulin your pancreas is producing. I also wonder if the gliclazide isn't trying to push your pancreas into doing something it is no longer up to doing.
I'm no medic though - these are just my thoughts!

 

[Gardevoir]

Can 3c be caused by covid? My body stopped making insulin 2 days after I got hit by covid. I'm diagnosed as type 1 as per 7 days ago but am wondering if I fall under 3c instead.

 

[miahara]

Can 3c be caused by covid? My body stopped making insulin 2 days after I got hit by covid. I'm diagnosed as type 1 as per 7 days ago but am wondering if I fall under 3c instead.

I've no idea if Covid could cause you to develop T3c, but I doubt it. The difference between T1 and T3c is that with T1 the panceas produces no insulin whereas T3c it produces some, but not enough. If you've had a C-Pepetide test it should have confirmed how much or how little insulin your pancreas is producing.

 

[plantae]

Can 3c be caused by covid? My body stopped making insulin 2 days after I got hit by covid. I'm diagnosed as type 1 as per 7 days ago but am wondering if I fall under 3c instead.

Related to this I’m currently confused. I was diagnosed as type 1 (twice; the second time at a different hospital). But since I have a history of pancreatitis I assumed, based on what I read here and other places, that I am type 3c. Officially I am type 1 so am not sure if I should change my profile

 

[Antje77]

Related to this I’m currently confused. I was diagnosed as type 1 (twice; the second time at a different hospital). But since I have a history of pancreatitis I assumed, based on what I read here and other places, that I am type 3c. Officially I am type 1 so am not sure if I should change my profile

Some doctors call T3C T1 because of the similarities in treatment.
You're on creon too, right? That's a 3C thing usually.
I wouldn't change my profile if it were me.

But it's worth asking your doctor/diabetes nurse about next time you see them.

 

[plantae]

Some doctors call T3C T1 because of the similarities in treatment.
You're on creon too, right? That's a 3C thing usually.
I wouldn't change my profile if it were me.

But it's worth asking your doctor/diabetes nurse about next time you see them.

Yes, I’ve been on Creon for about 5 years since the pancreatitis. I’ll definitely ask again re T1

 

[Kaydee59]

Whats type 3c?

Type 3C is when you no longer have a pancreas and can’t produce any insulin - it also means without a pancreas, you don’t produce enzymes to break down food either.

 

[AussiePip]

Pancreatogenic diabetes is classified by the World Health Organization as type 3c diabetes mellitus (T3cDM) and refers to diabetes due to impairment in pancreatic endocrine function related to pancreatic exocrine damage due to acute, relapsing and chronic pancreatitis (of any etiology), cystic fibrosis, hemochromatosis, pancreatic cancer, and pancreatectomy, and as well rare causes such as neonatal diabetes due to pancreatic agenesis (1). Prevalence data on T3cDM are scarce because of insufficient research in this area and challenges with accurate diabetes classification in clinical practice.

In ordinary terms, damage to pancreas through, accident, illness, operation or genetic disposition, we are often misdiagnosed as type 1 as we are insulin dependant, we can go hypo/hyper for no reason.

As far as I know there are 12 types of diabetes. I was surprised to see this post because I've read a lot of research into alzheimers and similar which are often labelled in the literature as Type 3 diabetes with various subcategories. I have seen the pancreatic type labelled 2c. I am sure you know your own label but docs seem to be confused.
I do the research because I am ostensibly type 2 with high Hb1ac, failed glucose tolerance test, etc yet I am slim and any amount of exercise, diabetic medications, variations on diet, make no difference at all, yet I have symptoms of out of control diabetes. There is, or was a lot of research being done on types and causes of diabetes.

 

[Benny7]

My husband has type 3c after having the Whipple procedure (operation removing his pancreas, gall bladder and spleen).

 

[janeliz]

I've no idea if Covid could cause you to develop T3c, but I doubt it. The difference between T1 and T3c is that with T1 the panceas produces no insulin whereas T3c it produces some, but not enough. If you've had a C-Pepetide test it should have confirmed how much or how little insulin your pancreas is producing.

Type 1 produce little or no insulin. Type3c produce little or no insulin along with diminished pancreatic enzymes and no glucagon.
I’m type 3c and produce no insulin, enzymes or glucagon.

 

[allyshore87]

I am Type 1 and have been for over 40 years. I recently had chronic pancreatitis and had a pancreatic jejunctonomy - does this make me Type 1 and Type 3c? I have to take Creon with all food.

 

[Judy murray]

Hi all, I’m type 3c and have been since 2021. I had a full pancreatectomy,so am insulin dependent and take creon with every meal/ snack. I also have a blockage caused by adhesions. Fatigue is my biggest problem.

 

[JANG210100]

I have type 3c (secondary to pancreatitis) diagnosed in 2014 and misdiagnosed for 14 years prior to that. if it has been correctly diagnosed in 2000 i may not now be type 3c. from my doctors point of view there was no question in 2000 that there could be any other than type 1 or type 2 so no further investigations were made. it is no surprise that others have been misdiagnosed too. I am insulin dependent and on creon regime. I note that Diabetes UK still do not recognise this type 3c on their list of choices for what type you could be. I have been campaigning for recognition for the past 14 years which was the time I had over a month in hospital with pancreatitis and diagnose as type 3c.

 

[Owenn01]

Thanks for sharing this topic. I am currently a Type 1 diagnosed diabetic (of 48 years now) but I am also a fairly recently diagnosed hemochromatosis patent - and not the 'standard' type either, having 'Type 4' or Ferroportin disorder. This is a 'least worse' diagnosis as the iron only populates the macrophage cells in the liver etc. and not having a random iron overload in the system. Prior to diagnosis I had scans confirming quite widespread iron deposits, including in the pancreas for example. I'm interested in this as I too have episodes of high and low blood sugar levels = often at short notice ('Spikes') - but with little to no correlation with diet or external factors driving them (exercise etc.). It might be useful to follow this up with my Diabetic Specialist (if I can ever get an appointment with them!). Thanks again.

 

[sololite]

As type 3c is a rare form of diabetes, and as we now have our own sub-forum, I'm curious to know how many of us are accessing the forum! So are you a member of the 3c club?? Sue xx

When I joined this forum a few years ago I was LADA and have recently become classified Type 3 after having my pancreas removed. Happy to share my experiences with anyone going through the same thing.

 

[jalu47]

I’ve just been diagnosed as diabetic and presume I’m type 3c. I have cancer of the bile duct and my pancreatic duct is dilated / compromised. I’m also on creon. I’ve started on insulin and feeling like a different person - I think my sugars were running above 20 for over a month!

What’s the likelihood of getting an insulin pump? Are they few and far between? I’m currently having chemotherapy and my weight loss has been dramatic so they don’t want me to curb my diet too much but it’s been hard to manage.

Any advice on getting a pump?

 

[EllieM]

Hi @jalu47 and welcome to the forums. My (limited) understanding is that T3cs get treated like T1s by the NHS, as far as insulin goes. Hopefully they are already gving you a cgm or flash reader (dexcom or libre)? Availability and ease of access to insulin pumps seems to be a bit geographically variable, I suspect your best bet is just to ask.

You will probably get a better answer to your question if you post your question in a new thread though, either in this forum or in the insulin pump forum or "ask a question".

 

[jalu47]

Hi @jalu47 and welcome to the forums. My (limited) understanding is that T3cs get treated like T1s by the NHS, as far as insulin goes. Hopefully they are already gving you a cgm or flash reader (dexcom or libre)? Availability and ease of access to insulin pumps seems to be a bit geographically variable, I suspect your best bet is just to ask.

You will probably get a better answer to your question if you post your question in a new thread though, either in this forum or in the insulin pump forum or "ask a question".

Thanks - I’ll try that. Yes have a libre which has been very helpful so far!

 

[christmasfairy1]

I am a member of the 3c club( didn't know there was a stand alone category until this evening) however, I shall be posting in here now
I've been type 3c since March and still being pulled in every direction possible via diab nurses, consultant, G.P, dietician funding and now to add to the mix , gastric and endocrinology
Anyway I'm sure I'll come out the other side of the tunnel soon.
( hopefully with Creon in situ).
Nice to erm.... type you all

 

[tamar]

I am a member of the 3c club( didn't know there was a stand alone category until this evening) however, I shall be posting in here now
I've been type 3c since March and still being pulled in every direction possible via diab nurses, consultant, G.P, dietician funding and now to add to the mix , gastric and endocrinology
Anyway I'm sure I'll come out the other side of the tunnel soon.
( hopefully with Creon in situ).
Nice to erm.... type you all

Welcome. I have been type 3c since 2009 after a total pancreatectomy. As previous forum members have stated we are treated by the NHS as Type 1s! It takes time to work it all out but I can assure you that you will get there it may seem overwhelming at the moment, don't despair hang in there. I have found using the Libre 2 has made life a whole lot easier, never been offered a pump and that's okay I function fine without one.