Type 3c Diabetes

[Matthew Balls]

Hello,

My mother recently had part of her pancreas removed and has now been diagnosed with Type 3c Diabetes. She is frequently getting the following symptoms: feeling feverish, feeling of pins and needles in her feet, diarrhoea, feeling thirsty and constantly hungry, urinating a lot at night, feeling constantly tired and has difficulty gaining weight. However, when she then checks her blood sugar levels they seem within the normal range i.e. neither high or low! She is seeing a diabetes doctor and he has prescribed her with Metformin, but is not really getting any further help or advise. Could anyone with diabetes or type 3c diabetes kindly give me some advise? My mother is really struggling.

Many thanks,
Matt

 

[nonethewiser]

Few members here are great on type 3 matters, @eggyg being one.

Has she been prescribed Creon as enzyme replacement, fatigue & feeling generally unwell could be down to her not absorbing food properly.

I have PEI & take Creon with meals.

 

[Matthew Balls]

Few members here are great on type 3 matters, @eggyg being one.

Has she been prescribed Creon as enzyme replacement, fatigue & feeling generally unwell could be down to her not absorbing food properly.

I have PEI & take Creon with meals.

Hi, Thanks for your reply. Yes she does take Creon.

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Hi Matthew Balls, welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear about your mother's' experience. How how long have these symptoms being going on for?

It may be worth having a chat with the doctor as it could be an issue with the type of medication, as it's not uncommon for 3c's to adjust their medication, or a side effect of co-existing issues.

We often find that those with 3c struggle to get the support needed so please feel free to give our helpline a call for more tailored advice.

 

[nonethewiser]

Hi, Thanks for your reply. Yes she does take Creon.

In that case best speaking to her gp or gastroenterologist about those symptoms, don't think any of use will have answers your looking for.

 

[Proud to be erratic]

Hi and Welcome,

My mother recently had part of her pancreas removed and has now been diagnosed with Type 3c Diabetes.

Really sorry that your Mother is struggling. Your mother has had major surgery with a partial pancreatectomy and the medical trauma from that can introduce all sorts of post-op issues. How long ago was this and is she still under the Heptobiliary (HPB) surgical team for post op care?

She is frequently getting the following symptoms: feeling feverish, feeling of pins and needles in her feet, diarrhoea, feeling thirsty and constantly hungry, urinating a lot at night, feeling constantly tired and has difficulty gaining weight.

I ask about post-op care since I don't recognise some of the symptoms as necessarily Diabetes related, but rather more post-op issues. Did the discharge paperwork include full details of what was surgically removed or rearranged, as a result of the partial pancreatectomy? Is she due a further HPB review and can her problems be taken back to the HPB team for more help?

However, when she then checks her blood sugar levels they seem within the normal range i.e. neither high or low! She is seeing a diabetes doctor and he has prescribed her with Metformin, but is not really getting any further help or advise.

Metformin is an oral medication that helps one's body best manage the insulin that is still being produced. I understand, this can cause difficult bowel activity. Since her BG levels are within normal, then her T3c diabetes is currently behaving as if she is T2 (she is still definitely T3c); whereas my own T3c (from having no pancreas) means I am treated 'as if T1'. But your Mum and myself, as T3cs, need specialist diabetes support. Myself, because I'm 'as if T1' but with other issues; and your Mum is 'as if T2', but with other endocrinological needs and the real possibility of becoming insulin dependent in the course of time. This needs specialist overview.

Could anyone with diabetes or type 3c diabetes kindly give me some advise? My mother is really struggling.

Many thanks,
Matt

One observation from my post-op experiences is that I found that I had to keep the various specialists 'joined up'. My circumstances were unusual, Surgery and HPB support, along with chemotherapy, being provided by another NHS Trust in a different County; Trusts don't trust and do not readily share medical info outside each Trust!

 

[eggyg]

Hi @Matthew Balls could I ask how old your mum is? I’m asking as I was a young 47 when I had my distal pancreatectomy and I was unwell for about three months. It’s a pretty major op. I didn’t become diabetic for three years and put on Metformin to try and stave it off for as long as possible. The fatigue as @nonethewiser says is possibly post op. I never had any other symptoms as described by yourself. Best to go back to her consultant to alleviate your worries. Ask any questions and I’ll do my best to answer. If it’s any consolation I am almost 15 years post op. Elaine.
Edited to add. I did/do get diarrhoea, maybe try upping her Creon. Is she on a set dose per meal as prescribed by GP or taking what she needs. She can’t really overdose as it’s an enzyme, maybe a bit trial and error needed. More for fatty food for definite.

 

[Matthew Balls]

Hi Matthew Balls, welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear about your mother's' experience. How how long have these symptoms being going on for?

It may be worth having a chat with the doctor as it could be an issue with the type of medication, as it's not uncommon for 3c's to adjust their medication, or a side effect of co-existing issues.

We often find that those with 3c struggle to get the support needed so please feel free to give our helpline a call for more tailored advice.

Thank you. Her symptoms have been going on for a few months now.

 

[Matthew Balls]

Hi and Welcome,

Really sorry that your Mother is struggling. Your mother has had major surgery with a partial pancreatectomy and the medical trauma from that can introduce all sorts of post-op issues. How long ago was this and is she still under the Heptobiliary (HPB) surgical team for post op care?

I ask about post-op care since I don't recognise some of the symptoms as necessarily Diabetes related, but rather more post-op issues. Did the discharge paperwork include full details of what was surgically removed or rearranged, as a result of the partial pancreatectomy? Is she due a further HPB review and can her problems be taken back to the HPB team for more help?

Metformin is an oral medication that helps one's body best manage the insulin that is still being produced. I understand, this can cause difficult bowel activity. Since her BG levels are within normal, then her T3c diabetes is currently behaving as if she is T2 (she is still definitely T3c); whereas my own T3c (from having no pancreas) means I am treated 'as if T1'. But your Mum and myself, as T3cs, need specialist diabetes support. Myself, because I'm 'as if T1' but with other issues; and your Mum is 'as if T2', but with other endocrinological needs and the real possibility of becoming insulin dependent in the course of time. This needs specialist overview.

One observation from my post-op experiences is that I found that I had to keep the various specialists 'joined up'. My circumstances were unusual, Surgery and HPB support, along with chemotherapy, being provided by another NHS Trust in a different County; Trusts don't trust and do not readily share medical info outside each Trust!

Thank you. She had a Whipple in August 2018. She is still seen by the HPB team and also a gut consultant at the same hospital. Problem is she is constantly being pushed from one team to the other team, with both teams not being able to find the cause of her symptoms, hence I am questioning whether the symptoms are all related to her diabetes.

 

[Matthew Balls]

Hi @Matthew Balls could I ask how old your mum is? I’m asking as I was a young 47 when I had my distal pancreatectomy and I was unwell for about three months. It’s a pretty major op. I didn’t become diabetic for three years and put on Metformin to try and stave it off for as long as possible. The fatigue as @nonethewiser says is possibly post op. I never had any other symptoms as described by yourself. Best to go back to her consultant to alleviate your worries. Ask any questions and I’ll do my best to answer. If it’s any consolation I am almost 15 years post op. Elaine.
Edited to add. I did/do get diarrhoea, maybe try upping her Creon. Is she on a set dose per meal as prescribed by GP or taking what she needs. She can’t really overdose as it’s an enzyme, maybe a bit trial and error needed. More for fatty food for definite.

Thanks. She is 70 and had the op in Aug 2018.

 

[Proud to be erratic]

Thank you. She had a Whipple in August 2018. She is still seen by the HPB team and also a gut consultant at the same hospital. Problem is she is constantly being pushed from one team to the other team, with both teams not being able to find the cause of her symptoms, hence I am questioning whether the symptoms are all related to her diabetes.

Well, I know personally that the Whipple is a major op and it took me over 24 months to get just some "traction" with resolving my blatant irregularities; I'm still under the Urology team and have a pre-op assessment next week.

I'm too new to diabetes to help with Metformin aspects, but much of what you described does not ring any bells in my brain about her diabetic status. But I could be very wrong. Are you able to join your Mum at a Consult? I found I had to be politely but very robust sometimes and challenge the specialist decisions. I still think you need to get HPB to pursue a full review; my experience was that as the Surgical authority they had more clout than Endocrinogy - although that balance has now changed for me as my overall status has improved. Has your Mum had a scan since her discharge? Can you jointly press for a case conference - very soon?

I see that @Cherrelle DUK has touched base with you; certainly the Helpline folks will understand far better than myself how you might get a fresh review. As already said T3c is not generally straightforward, it arises because of damage to one's pancreas which from the outset means there are 2 ailments already in the mix!