Diabetes and pancreatic isdues

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Sarahp

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Type 2
Hi, last year I was rushed into hospital with pancreatitis, liver issues and tachycardia supposedly due to gallstones. I had been having investigations since 2015 due to pain and symptoms. I was diagnosed with t2 diabetes around ten years ago and trialled creon for epi in 2019-2020, unfortunately it triggered bowel bleeds so had to stop it.

have any of you developed pancreatic issues following starting new diabetes medications?

Originally it was hoped it would be resolved by gallstones surgery which is now a very risky op for me due to other medical issues but yesterday I had a diabetic review at my new Drs surgery and been told two meds aren’t suited if you have pancreatic issues and shouldn’t be prescribed together and also not given following bariatric surgery (mine was in 2014), still trying to find out which came first but meds are being stopped immediately and had urgent bloods done.

My husband and I are now very anxious about the situation, I am having a meds review next Thursday but already having high readings and my pancreatic issues are kicking off big time .

Hope you have a lovely day.
 
Whyever don't they just prescribe insulin for you? or , are they still trying to make you eat less, which is presumably why you had the bariatric surgery ages since, or something else?

Forgive me if I haven't grasped the problem the NHS is having help you treat your Diabetes, cos my pancreatic issues are minor - mine simply stopped producing sufficient insulin to sustain life 50 years ago and nowt else.
 
Hi thank you for your reply. The drugs support cardiac issues which I have plus I have a disorder that makes testing bloods very difficult once the temperature dips under about 15 degrees so they would have to find a libre type device with the insulin.
I lost over 12 stone with the surgery but still need to loose more but developed other GI conditions meaning I can’t eat most wholemeal foods or rye bread, so that’s led to diabetes spiralling again.
No fun at all, hope your having a good day!
 
Hi @Sarahp, welcome to the forum.

I was T1 for years before developing Chronic Pancreatitis ( no pain, no episodes of Acute P). Firstly, I've never heard of on this forum, or the pancreatitis forum, of Creon, which I take lots of, causing bowel bleeds, except maybe a bit of rectal irritation if you take too much.

That said, if have ongoing symptoms of pancreatitis you MUST be on insulin. No tablets will work. This is because the pancreatitis damages all the cells in the pancreas, not just those that produce digestive enzymes (hence the Creon), but also kills the cells that produce insulin. That is why your diabetes is showing high readings. If your pancreas can't produce insulin, you have to inject it. That is why the NICE recommendation for the treatment of diabetes consequential to pancreatitis should always be treated with insulin.

This form of Diabetes is called Type 3c, but is the same as T1 - always treated with insulin. That's the type you are now, regardless of being T2 before. If you hadn't lost12st, you would need a lot more insulin because of insulin resistance, which is feature in some T2 cases, but it should be a relatively easy switch of treatment.

Incidentally, I also have Ulcerative Colitis, which does indeed cause bowel bleeding, but it has been quiescent for the last for years, and the Creon has had absolutely no effect on that condition.
 
Hi Mike thank you so much for taking the time to reply.
I have diverticulitis/pouches and within days of starting creon I developed severe constipation and had multiple bleeds despite tweaks of the creon dose to try and improve the situation so in the end they discontinued the creon and the bleeds stopped. I did read up on t3c and agree with you that everything fits especially with the pancreatitis complication as I have up to 25 situations to deal with a day in all manner of nasty symptoms. I also have a family history of dementia and have started with memory issues in recent months which fits as well. Also recently started with eye damage and neuropathy symptoms which old surgery said are related to anxiety and having a history of domestic abuse trauma without any examination!
I have been pleading to see a specialist but keep getting declined, we have now changed surgery and within days they have picked up the situation and filed a complaint with my old surgery.
I am prepared to go on insulin if they will help with a libre or other similar device in winter, in March a duty doctor couldn’t get my blood or a paramedic a few days later either, this time of year isn’t so bad, both said I needed a device to accurately monitor my bloods.
Thank you again for taking the time to reply, just trying to get through the next few days.
Best wishes Sarah
 
“I can’t eat most wholemeal foods or rye bread, so that’s led to diabetes spiralling again”

Perhaps you might like to share what you do eat. If you’re eating more veg instead of wholemeal bread etc then that wouldn’t cause any problems for your diabetes at all?
 
Hi, sorry confused as to why you ask this? Given I admitted it’s spiralling diet due to dietary restrictions, I am not seeking diet advice, I am seeking advice on diabetes care. I suffered with
bulimia until 2013.
 
Sarahp said:
Hi, sorry confused as to why you ask this? Given I admitted it’s spiralling diet due to dietary restrictions, I am not seeking diet advice, I am seeking advice on diabetes care. I suffered with
bulimia until 2013.
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Many type 2 diabetics can achieve improvements in blood glucose, even going into remission by avoiding eating high carb foods. I am one of them - I eat a maximum of 40 gm of carbs a day and am in remission. That is why there is interest in what you are eating.
I eat swede rather than potato, make cauliflower cheese rather than have macaroni cheese - I have curries, stir fries and salads, so my blood glucose stays low, that is how I deal with diabetes. My situation is very ordinary and unexciting, so I don't even require medication for the diabetes - you have obviously got a lot more going on.
 
Sarahp said:
Hi, sorry confused as to why you ask this? Given I admitted it’s spiralling diet due to dietary restrictions, I am not seeking diet advice, I am seeking advice on diabetes care. I suffered with
bulimia until 2013.
Click to expand...
I asked because you stated not being able to eat Wholemeal food and rye bread is having a negative effect on your diabetes. But neither of these are helpful for diabetes anyway, so I can’t imagine why your blood sugars are worse without them.
 
Drummer said:
Many type 2 diabetics can achieve improvements in blood glucose, even going into remission by avoiding eating high carb foods. I am one of them - I eat a maximum of 40 gm of carbs a day and am in remission. That is why there is interest in what you are eating.
I eat swede rather than potato, make cauliflower cheese rather than have macaroni cheese - I have curries, stir fries and salads, so my blood glucose stays low, that is how I deal with diabetes. My situation is very ordinary and unexciting, so I don't even require medication for the diabetes - you have obviously got a lot more going on.
Click to expand...
I am glad it works for you, I was in remission for a few years but due to food allergies and eight GI conditions unfortunately most low GI foods are off limits. That’s why I am not asking for dietary advice and support and why your message both confused and upset me.
 
Sarahp said:
I am glad it works for you, I was in remission for a few years but due to food allergies and eight GI conditions unfortunately most low GI foods are off limits. That’s why I am not asking for dietary advice and support and why your message both confused and upset me.
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Not knowing your history I only suggested what seems to help quite a number of type twos.
Personally, low GI foods have never been any help in controlling my blood glucose and they are definitely not on my list of acceptable foods. It is perhaps quite severe to keep to under 40 gm of carbs a day, but that is what it takes for me to be in remission.
Only your doctor or other HCP can advise on treatment, so we are somewhat restricted in what we can propose in a bid to be helpful.
 
Baffles me how they could diagnose anyone with diabetes, without doing a blood test which Oh yes does indeed involve using a needle to get blood directly out of a vein to get into a phial to send off to a laboratory to be tested.

However, this is not at all necessary when using a glucometer to test blood glucose day to day at home since all that is necessary is a teensy weensy little pin-prick of blood out of a finger. The hole made in the skin normally seals itself up instantly, it's that small. As long as your hands aren't freezing cold, in which case warm em up - there will be more than sufficient blood flowing in your fingertips to suffice. No needles whatsoever. Just a 'bodger' device with a lancet about 2mm in length and no way do you need to apply any force whatever.
 
Drummer said:
Not knowing your history I only suggested what seems to help quite a number of type twos.
Personally, low GI foods have never been any help in controlling my blood glucose and they are definitely not on my list of acceptable foods. It is perhaps quite severe to keep to under 40 gm of carbs a day, but that is what it takes for me to be in remission.
Only your doctor or other HCP can advise on treatment, so we are somewhat restricted in what we can propose in a bid to be helpful.
Click to expand...
Given I stated I lost 12 stone then I do know how to eat for type two diabetes but as I said in the messsges my diet is restricted due to other issues. You don’t seem to realise the seriousness of the situation and how diet control won’t work.
I wasn’t seeking treatment advice either, I was seeking other patients experiences around treatment (as we both are very scared and alone and allegations around conflicts within their treatment,) my new surgery have lodged a formal complaint around my treatment.
I wasn’t seeking dietary advice and am concerned for your well being as you seem to be following a keto type/style plan which is considered risky for diabetics.
 
trophywench said:
Baffles me how they could diagnose anyone with diabetes, without doing a blood test which Oh yes does indeed involve using a needle to get blood directly out of a vein to get into a phial to send off to a laboratory to be tested.

However, this is not at all necessary when using a glucometer to test blood glucose day to day at home since all that is necessary is a teensy weensy little pin-prick of blood out of a finger. The hole made in the skin normally seals itself up instantly, it's that small. As long as your hands aren't freezing cold, in which case warm em up - there will be more than sufficient blood flowing in your fingertips to suffice. No needles whatsoever. Just a 'bodger' device with a lancet about 2mm in length and no way do you need to apply any force whatever.
Click to expand...
Hi Jenny
Thank you for you reply.
Why did you think I didn’t have a blood test? I have blood tests currently on a monthly basis due to the complex nature of my disabilities and was diagnosed with diabetes at age 32 so 11 years ago.
I have severe circulation disease so nine months of the year it’s virtually impossible to get blood even with applying pressure and this at times even extends to tests taken by the surgery from a vein. Like I said above even professionals have tried to test my blood in emergency situations and failed.
Best wishes Sarah
 
Sarahp said:
Hi Jenny
Thank you for you reply.
Why did you think I didn’t have a blood test? I have blood tests currently on a monthly basis due to the complex nature of my disabilities and was diagnosed with diabetes at age 32 so 11 years ago.
I have severe circulation disease so nine months of the year it’s virtually impossible to get blood even with applying pressure and this at times even extends to tests taken by the surgery from a vein. Like I said above even professionals have tried to test my blood in emergency situations and failed.
Best wishes Sarah
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A hba1c can be taken from a fingerprick of blood which may be useful here then.
 
Sarahp said:
Given I stated I lost 12 stone then I do know how to eat for type two diabetes but as I said in the messsges my diet is restricted due to other issues. You don’t seem to realise the seriousness of the situation and how diet control won’t work.
I wasn’t seeking treatment advice either, I was seeking other patients experiences around treatment (as we both are very scared and alone and allegations around conflicts within their treatment,) my new surgery have lodged a formal complaint around my treatment.
I wasn’t seeking dietary advice and am concerned for your well being as you seem to be following a keto type/style plan which is considered risky for diabetics.
Click to expand...
I eat low carb foods - the KETO diet plan as laid out in all sorts of books is a very recent thing compared to the simpler method of simply not eating high carb foods. That was the only way to treat any form of diabetes for a very long time, so it is well known that it is perfectly safe and sustainable for ordinary uncomplicated type twos.

I do hope that your new surgery can get to the bottom of the problems you have experienced and can put you on the proper treatment once you have the right diagnosis - which I point out, as gently as possible, we cannot give.

With everything you have experienced you might well have something other than or in addition to type two, as the addition of pancreatitis and liver issues would seem to need the full attention of your new surgery. I very much hope that your incorrect treatment can be reversed, and a properly diagnosed and prescribed regime begun to at least reduce the problems you are experiencing.
 
Lucyr said:
I asked because you stated not being able to eat Wholemeal food and rye bread is having a negative effect on your diabetes. But neither of these are helpful for diabetes anyway, so I can’t imagine why your blood sugars are worse without them.
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I have explained to Sarah why are BGs are worse. Read my reply earlier. Her BGs are worse because of the pancreatitis. Her pancreas isn't producing enough insulin to cope with any food, so whatever she eats in any form of diet won't make any difference. She is no longer a T2, but T3c, so the same as any T1.

Maybe now you can imagine why her blood sugars are worse.
 
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