Type 3c - how many are we?

ChrisM28 said:

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!!!!

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Before I had my attack I had been diagnosed with an ulcer and had been taking anything I could find to give me some relief. One of the meds was Zantac. I've been ok since then but over the last few years my glucose levels went haywire and I'm am on a variety of meds but find the best control is diet, I've cut out carbs and am almost back to normal. I am due for a Hba1c this month and hoping it will be below 50 this time, I think 48 and below is normal.

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 in following the diagnosis of AIP in 2010 I was type 2 following a total breakdown of my pancreas and a month of BG levels above 30 it was finally that I was type 3c and put on insulin

I was diagnosed type 2 in 2002 and immediately put on metformin as well as being given some dietary advice. I had been feeling thirsty and tired for a few weeks and my blood test revealed very high levels of blood sugar, high enough that I was summoned back to the doctor on the day they got my results. A few years later I suddenly developed acute pancreatitis which had me hospitalised for three weeks. My pancreas regained partial functionality but I was told I would need insulin from then onward. I had never considered that perhaps a failing pancreas might have been the cause of the diabetes but reading this it seems it may have been. Not sure yet what all this might mean or whether I am actually type C but am thinking that an exploratory meeting with my doctor might be a good idea. What are the differences (if any) between insulin dependent type B and type C? I have problems with ulcers on my legs and recently developed anaemia for the firs time in my life which needed a thyroid boosting tablet. All sounding a bit like type C to me

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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Hi, I'm type 3c after have pancreatitus and having it removed. I'm just glad there's a type for it now.

I was diagnosed originally as type 2. At my last outpatient appointment my consultant observed that I was neither type 2 nor type 1.He didn't specify type 3c but given the excellent information provided here and bearing in mind that I have hereditary haemochromatosis (belatedly diagnosed) I reckon I fall into the 3c category.

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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I had severe acute pancreatitis in August.
I have no pancreas left now, so it's insulin and creon for me.
The GP couldn't classify me as T3c because their computer system only allows T1 & T2

I'm definitely a life* member of the T3c club

*I was very nearly not a life...Much thanks to the surgical special care team at Stoke Royal hosp‍

mrspuddleduck said:

Thank you @Shar67! @eddie1968 , type 3c never occurs in isolation it is always part of a wider group of pancreatic problems that effect both the exocrine and endocrine systems due to the extensive damage (or death to the pancreas). In type 1, the beta cells are damaged/destroyed but in type 3c it is both the beta cells and the alpha cells (liver) that are involved meaning there is no 'safety net' hence the sudden rises and falls in blood sugars for no apparent reason. This is quite a good linkhttp://www.pancreapedia.org/reviews/pancreatogenic-type-3c-diabetes

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@mrspuddleduck my son has been having unexplained symptoms in the last few weeks he has had severe pancreatic problems over the las t 12 months he nearly lost his life with it,h i snow due to see a diabetic nurse this week and after reading about type3c was wondering if he had this type, but so concerned he may be misdiagnosed has it's rare? There are Two type1 diabetics and two type2 in our family and his doctors are rubbish to be polite. Can you help with any information I could pass onto him Has soon has possible please! K
PS if anyone has any information that may help could you reply please.!!K

I too was diagnosed with T2 and treated accordingly. I also was hospitalised with acute pancreatitis and after numerous years my diagnosis is now chronic. Suffering bi-polar disorder, my ability to cope with diabetes was less than perfect. My pancreas no longer produces insulin and was told that I'm sliding into T1.....this is medically not possible and I'm aghast that doctors and specialists here in Australia simply appear to scratch their heads when asked about T3c or pancreatic diabetes. After much research I have established that T3c is not considered auto-immune disease like T1, T3c applies to those like so many of us who have failed or severely impaired pancreatic function and have for so many years been treated only as T2 Insulin dependant diabetics. I am still trying to learn as much as possible so please bring on the information. CHEERS SPARACINO
PS: Now I learned that T3c is in fact an auto-imune disease where both alpha and beta cells are destroyed. All the information available has thus far been both interesting and insightful. Why here in Australia pancreatogenic diabetes (T3c) doesn't appear to be recognised as widely as it is in both North America and the Uk. Perhaps just a question of terminology?

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 T3C after partial pancreas removal, Doctors never heard of T3C ?

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

Click to expand...

I initially thought I was type 2 but after much discussion the consensus is tha5 my pancreas was damaged by sepsis so I am type 3

Hi it's me again. Last HBA1C 67, and taking 1000mg metformin slow release with cre on is upsetting my tum something awful. Lowered carbs and being sensible, but my pancreas has some atrophy so feel like I am losing the battle with blood sugars. If I take 500g my tum is ok but sugars higher! Dr now suggesting taking glicazide! Help.

T3C - Only just found out about this. I have been on Novarapid since having partial removal of the Pancreas Ive even increasing the amount of insulin to try and keep on top of levels 18 units before each meal, a hard balancing act. After over 3 years waiting finally got to see the Diabetic clinic the doctor was surprised that I am on Novarapid he said it doesn't help the pancreas to work so now on the following:

ACTOS 30MG 1 X DAY
GLICAZIDE 40MG 1 X A.M 1 X PM
METFORMIN 1000 MG 1 A.M 1 X PM
4 UNITS NOVARAPID IF BS IS OVER 5

When I test my BS now its usually in the 6's

Since the op I take Creon before each meal 3 - 4 tablets and 20mg of Omeprazole.

I very rarely have stomach problems

I’m type 3 due to having lupus and it has cause damage to both my liver and pancreas

It's amazing that this form of Diabetes is still in some circles not officially recognised.

I had a diabetic review recently and not many nurses knew this existed so it begs the question why aren't medical staff in 2018 being trained in dealing with patients with Type 3c or at least have raised awareness on the subject matter.

Deadeye_Pete said:

I had severe acute pancreatitis in August.
I have no pancreas left now, so it's insulin and creon for me.
The GP couldn't classify me as T3c because their computer system only allows T1 & T2

I'm definitely a life* member of the T3c club

*I was very nearly not a life...Much thanks to the surgical special care team at Stoke Royal hosp‍

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Hi

Are you finding Creon has any affect at all. The reason I ask this is because I like you have no pancreas and have been taken Creon to make up for the lack of enzymes however I've noticed over time it makes no difference to the digestive system even if I don't take them.

My body still processes food normally through the bowels as before I had my necrotising pancreatitis so I've stopped taking Creon for the last year or so and not had any side effects.

Hi I’m so glad to find similar people to me! Will tell my story best I can.I had a cyst around my pancreas when I was ten years old and after several months in st James Hospital Leeds they drained the cyst and I recovered and carried on with my life thank you so much Dr Brennan.I have always been ok until about ten years ago I was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic and put on usual meds.But about 14 months ago I fell ill with very bad abdominal pains and weight loss,after 7 months off work It was found that my pancreas has dissolved away leaving only the head left.I was put on creon and Gliclazide but my blood sugar keeps spiking and the doc wants me to start insulin but I’m scared stiff of not been able to inject while working as
Commercial gas engineer needles scare me to death.Im feeling a bit lost at the moment.Any ideas THANK YOU.

Hi @Sparkydillo

I’m sorry to hear about your problems.

Please talk to your doctor about your fear of needles; it is quite common and they should understand.

Anxiety UK has an online booklet on needle phobias here... http://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/Needle-Phobia-Booklet.pdf

It’s worth searching this forum for “needle phobia” to get other people’s advice on this specific problem.

Your doctor may be able to suggest an alternative such as a “port”: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetic-products/iport-injection-port.html or they may recommend hypnosis or another therapy to help calm your nerves.

Have you seen an insulin needle? They’re not like the needles used for blood samples: they’re very short (usually 4mm or 5mm in length) and fine.

The other thing to consider is that you are in control ie. you are injecting yourself, you decide exactly when and where to inject your insulin, so this may reduce some of your fears.

I wish you well.

Hi the doctors diagnosed my as type 2 but someone on the forum said I’m type 3 due to the fact I had a double lung transplant and the anti rejection drugs raise blood sugars

Hi Ledzeptt
Thank you for your reply and information links,I will have a look at these.
I’m under a specialist at ST JAMES HOSPITAL and he assured me that once I was on insulin my energy levels should increase and my blood sugar should drop.
So I guess I should man up lol.
I think it is the not known that causes more worry than anything,I hope once I am shown how to carry out the action of insulin injections I will be ok.
All you brilliant people manage to carry on which is an amazing example for us newbies to follow.
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN!!

I'm a Type 3c.....caused by a really nasty little thing called Acute on Chronic Pancreatitis.

I tend to find it easier to just describe myself as Type 1 though as people tend to know what that is and my treatment is the same as T1