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Type 3c - how many are we?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mrspuddleduck
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Shar67 said:
Hi and welsome @mattuk
You might still be type 1 to be type 3c you have to have no alpha and beta cells.
Having pancreatitis doesnt rule out type 1 or 2
I will tag @daisy1 to give you some info about site
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So can I ask for a test. My pancreas was damaged due to histiocytosis. I'm on metformin and test my levels but they seem very random. If I go for a walk I end up staggering home feeling weak and wobbly. Sometimes glucose has dropped but not always. Is treatment for 3 different to 2? Thanks.
 
Hi @Philinselby

It would be worth talking to your doctor or diabetes nurse about your symptoms and showing them your BG tests to see if they can help understand the pattern and help your control. Ask them about a blood test (but you'd be extremely ill by now, not walking around, if you weren't producing any insulin), so don't be concerned if they say it's not appropriate.

In my case, treatment for T3c diabetes is similar to T1 i.e. primarily based on insulin injections. I also take creon (digestive enzymes) and need vitamin B12 injections.
 
I'm even more confused now, as I was originally diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis and registered as Type 2 in 2014. I require twice daily insulin injections, and then having made further enquiries to confirm if I was actually T1 or T2, eventually my records now show me as "Secondary Pancreatic Pathology". My gallbladder was removed, and tubes from liver:-ancreas cleared the day before my diabetes confirmation. I now also take Creon daily with food to enable easier digestive function. I'm now at the stage where I don't worry what classification I go under, only that I have the correct information to understand, be in a position to control and accept what I have to live and work with. As always I wish every Member best wishes and thank my lucky stars that I can be part of this super Forum
 
Hi @Interaud

You could be T3c (only a blood test would prove it) and it's often referred to as "secondary diabetes" because it results from something else, possibly chronic pancreatitis in your case.

As you're being treated with insulin and creon, it probably doesn't matter what it's called: that's the same treatment I'm given and by the sound of things, you are able to control your diabetes and other symptoms. I certainly hope you're keeping (reasonably) well.
 
Hey, thanks for this encouraging message, and good wishes sent. It's true enough that categorisation can be very important, where necessary, when relevant information is necessary to pass on to those who need to know. But the desired outcome is always for the individual person to satisfactorily control and be able to live with the best possible desired outcome. My most sincere hope too that you're keeping well (PS. I'm assuming you are a Led Zepplin fan? Dare I ask about "Judas Priest; Whitesnake; Rolling Stones"?)
 
Thanks Interaud

I'm quite well, but have up and down days (several complications from my pancreatitis besides diabetes - there's more info on my profile if you're interested).

Yes, I'm a Led Zeppelin fan and grew up with Judas Priest, Whitesnake, the Stones etc
 
Hi everyone, I was diagnosed as diabetic in 1990. In 2003 I had an attack of acute pancreatitis which was sharp and quickly over. It did not appear to have caused any pancreatic damage. Then in 2008 I had two attacks in 10 days, the first being misdiagnosed! After a stay in ICU with lots of lovely morphine to keep me comfortable. Two weeks later I had my gall bladder removed. Since then I have taken huge doses of Creon and have been an unstable diabetic since. I am now deemed to have chronic pancreatitis. Then the local hospital ran a Low Carbohydrate course which I found fascinating. I have been on low carbs since and not only lost some very stubborn excess weight but have been able to considerably lower the amount of insulin I take.
 
Hi @Sassy

It's interesting that your hospital recommended LCHF and that you're doing well on that diet. I had acute then chronic pancreatitis: I was advised to minimise fat as that "irritated" my pancreatitis.

I've recently started experimenting with LCHF to improve my BG control (which it does). I'm only able to do so because I eventually developed necrotising pancreatitis and my pancreas is almost dead now. Fat doesn't seem to trigger a reaction.

I have the opposite problem of wanting to gain weight, so I'm hoping that eating more fat (hence more calories) will help. I'm not cutting carbs out, just reducing them.

We'd best not spend too much time chatting about LCHF: it's off topic (there are numerous other threads and it's the no.1 topic guaranteed to stir up controversy)!
 

Hi @ Ledzeptt, It was the diabetic specialist nurse that got me interested in carbs as they were running a course on Carb Counting. I just went into it deeper and without thinking too much about it jumped in feet first and went Ketogenic. Saw the gastroenterology folks last Thursday and they seem happy with my choices.
 
Hi all,

I've been type3c since I had an acute gallstone attack on 1st October 2011. This caused major inflamation of my pancreas and multiple organ shut down. Luckily I recovered but suffered necrosis of the pancreas and lost about 80% of it. Still have the head left apparently - the rest dissolved itself into a major black soupy gloop which was contianed in a massive pseudocyst and thankfully drained off over several weeks in hospital.

Diet wise - I try to behave but having given up any alcohol and cut down 'sweets' (not easy when you have a sweet tooth) and try to limit my carbs. This caused me to get quite depressed due to the major shock to my dietary habits.

Meds wise - currently still making some insulin myself thankfuly but also on a combination of Invokana, Gliclazide and Metformin SR and trying to be better with my diet.
 
Hi...new here. Yes it would seem although told initially I was Type 2 it would seem that I'm more accurately Type 3c. I had Acute Severe Gallstone Pancreatitis in 2012 and although I've worked very hard to eat well and don't drink at all I was diagnosed with Diabetes last December. GP hadn't even heard of Type 3c but agreed that the damage to the pancreas has caused the diabetes. Great fun
 
Hi everyone. First post, just found type 3c. Originally diagnosed as type 1 for 6 years. On insulin pump. Now diagnosed as secondary diabetes due to hereditary chronic pancreatitis because of a gene mutation. Taking creon and vit d for pancreatic insufficiency and vitamin d deficiency.
 
I suffered from Acute Pancreatitis in 1995 when I was on holiday in Miami. I got admitted to Cedars Medical Centre where I spent 3 weeks in intensive care. I almost died as a result of this. when I had recovered I came back to the UK with no apparent problems. 5 years later in 2000 I was admitted to hospital again with a pseudo cyst the size of a grape fruit. I was operated on to have the cyst removed and a drain put in to prevent it happening again. since then I have been diabetic on Insulin. I have always been diagnosed as Type 1. Last year I went to see a consultant at the hospital to see if I could get an insulin pump. I passed all of the NICE criteria to be given a pump, until the consultant told me I am not type 1 but type 3C. I've never heard of type 3C before then. The consultant told me that only type 1 diabetics are eligible for funding for an insulin pump from the NHS. I don't take any other medication such as Creon though? surely if I was a type 3C I would be taking such medication if my alpha cells and beta cells have been destroyed? Can I ask when I have my next blood test if they can test for the alpha and beta cells to determine whether I am type 1 or type 3C?
 
I had my gall bladder removed about 20 yrs ago and had a return of symptoms in 2009 and acute pancreatitis in Jan 2010. A cyst caused the problems. I was hospitalised for 3 weeks and starved and all symptoms subsided. So far they have not returned and I can eat anything without pain. I was assessed as having 60% damage to my pancreas. I was prescribed creon even though I had not lost weight or had any apparent dietary issues. This gave me a return of the symptoms pre pancreatitis and I stopped taking it. I now control my glucose levels by diet and meds, the low carb diet seems to work for me and although my diabetes medics were not in favor they now say whatever I am doing is working so keep doing it! Seems to me that self help is the answer in many cases and the professionals need to keep up with the research.
 
mrspuddleduck said:
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
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Yes I am type 3c but the medical profession doesn’t seem to acknowledge this as a separate type on the whole. Adrian
 
Adrianjj said:
Yes I am type 3c but the medical profession doesn’t seem to acknowledge this as a separate type on the whole. Adrian
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I have Type 3c called Pancreatogenic diabetes which is diabetes secondary to the autoimmune chronic pancreatitis which I have for the past 20 years. Josie
 
This is very interesting. My husband was diagnosed as terminal pancreatic cancer 18 years ago. We prepared for his imminent death. He was offered a drug trial to give him a bit longer so had a biopsy of the 'tumour' no tumour! Lying in his hospital bed he was bored and started to read the leaflets in his drug packets. Discovered that Zantac/Ranitidine in rare cases causes inflammation of pancreas. Stopped taking it - got better but became insulin dependent. Now we know he's a 3c!!!!
 
you have come to the right place for all the help you might need
 
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