Hi everyone, been a (bad) type 2 for the past 10 years, secondary to chronic pancreatitis. Just told last week that i will be moving to insulin, 2 injections a day, im a bit apprehensive, but i knew that this day would come. Looking forward to getting some tips and ideas on carb counting and recipes.
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Hello
- Thread starter Alba14
- Start date
- Status
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hi and welcome.
Actually you can't be "a bad Type 2" because it seems you are a Type 3c because your diabetes is due to pancreatitis and you should be treated like a Type 1, but potentially a bit more complicated.
Diabetes Type is classified by the cause and since yours is down to damage/disease of the pancreas then you are Type 3c. You might wonder if this makes much of a difference but actually it does, in respect of the support you get and technology (Libre and insulin pumps) and education (DAFNE type intensive education course) you should have access to.
There are quite a few Type 3c members here who may be able to give you a little more input... @Proud to be erratic. @soupdragon @eggyg and @martindt1606 I believe.
Do you need Creon to help you digest food or are you having any bowel issues which might suggest you do.... Don't answer if you are uncomfortable doing so, but important to know what to look out for and what you might need to manage it. The pancreas does more than just produce insulin and depending upon which parts are damaged (or removed if you have had surgery like some here) you may need Creon.
As regards insulin, do you know which insulin(s) you will be started on? Hopefully it will be a Basal/Bolus system which allows you more flexibility with your food and meal times than a mixed insulin, but it does take a bit more brain space because you need to learn to carb count and adjust your doses..... the education courses like DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) help with that and you should have access to a diabetic dietician too.
Anyway, I am so pleased you have found the forum because it makes the world of difference talking things through with people who have been there and got the T-shirt.... rather than clinicians who sometimes seem to think if you do what they say and follow all the guidance, it all works just like clockwork 🙄!
Actually you can't be "a bad Type 2" because it seems you are a Type 3c because your diabetes is due to pancreatitis and you should be treated like a Type 1, but potentially a bit more complicated.
Diabetes Type is classified by the cause and since yours is down to damage/disease of the pancreas then you are Type 3c. You might wonder if this makes much of a difference but actually it does, in respect of the support you get and technology (Libre and insulin pumps) and education (DAFNE type intensive education course) you should have access to.
There are quite a few Type 3c members here who may be able to give you a little more input... @Proud to be erratic. @soupdragon @eggyg and @martindt1606 I believe.
Do you need Creon to help you digest food or are you having any bowel issues which might suggest you do.... Don't answer if you are uncomfortable doing so, but important to know what to look out for and what you might need to manage it. The pancreas does more than just produce insulin and depending upon which parts are damaged (or removed if you have had surgery like some here) you may need Creon.
As regards insulin, do you know which insulin(s) you will be started on? Hopefully it will be a Basal/Bolus system which allows you more flexibility with your food and meal times than a mixed insulin, but it does take a bit more brain space because you need to learn to carb count and adjust your doses..... the education courses like DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) help with that and you should have access to a diabetic dietician too.
Anyway, I am so pleased you have found the forum because it makes the world of difference talking things through with people who have been there and got the T-shirt.... rather than clinicians who sometimes seem to think if you do what they say and follow all the guidance, it all works just like clockwork 🙄!
Ciara DUK
Supporter Care Advisor
Hi @Alba14 , welcome to the forum 🙂
Sorry you've had to join us, and thank you for sharing details about your diabetes - @rebrascora has given a great response to have a read over.
Are you a member of any local diabetes groups? Some people find it helpful to have another support network of others living affected by diabetes - we have a search tool on the Diabetes UK website should you want to browse any near you.
We really hope you find the forum helpful - it's a really lovely community of those who 'get it', and we're all here to help
Just checking in to say please do feel free to ask any questions you may have 🙂
Sorry you've had to join us, and thank you for sharing details about your diabetes - @rebrascora has given a great response to have a read over.
Are you a member of any local diabetes groups? Some people find it helpful to have another support network of others living affected by diabetes - we have a search tool on the Diabetes UK website should you want to browse any near you.
We really hope you find the forum helpful - it's a really lovely community of those who 'get it', and we're all here to help
Just checking in to say please do feel free to ask any questions you may have 🙂
Hi, thanks for the reply. I've thought that I should be diagnosed as a Type 3c, but they always tell me I'm Type 2. I've been told that i will get a Libre and I am on Creon. As for what type of insulin I'm not sure (its sitting in the fridge) I do know that its a mixture of fast and slow acting, or so I'm told 🙂 I don't start taking it until next month, when I go in for my next appointment with my DN.
Hi, thanks for the reply, I hadn't thought of local groups, will have a check and see if there are any near me, I'm sure there will be.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
How are you managing with the Creon. I believe it is very much a question of trial and error 😱 to find the right doses for you and the meals you eat. I will leave it to other Type 3cs to give more info if you need it on Creon.
Is it just one insulin that is a mixture of fast and slow or is it two separate boxes of pens, one a fast meal time insulin and the other a slow background insulin? I am assuming you are not at home at the moment to go and check the name of it/them, just now.
Good to hear that you will be getting Libre although it is unusual if you are on a mixed insulin I believe and as I said above, a mixed insulin gives you much less flexibility in what and when you eat, so not the best insulin regime for most people, but it suits some people, particularly if their lives are fairly regimented with meal times and similar meals each day.
Anyway, I will leave it to others to give a bit more input of support as regards Type 3c. Many had to battle for the correct classification and can explain the importance from their perspective.
Is it just one insulin that is a mixture of fast and slow or is it two separate boxes of pens, one a fast meal time insulin and the other a slow background insulin? I am assuming you are not at home at the moment to go and check the name of it/them, just now.
Good to hear that you will be getting Libre although it is unusual if you are on a mixed insulin I believe and as I said above, a mixed insulin gives you much less flexibility in what and when you eat, so not the best insulin regime for most people, but it suits some people, particularly if their lives are fairly regimented with meal times and similar meals each day.
Anyway, I will leave it to others to give a bit more input of support as regards Type 3c. Many had to battle for the correct classification and can explain the importance from their perspective.
Aye the Creon is ok, never had any problems with it, I've been taking it for about 10 years now, I normally dose in relation to what I'm eating, if its a higher fat meal then I take more, normally no more than 6 X 25000 pills per meal. The insulin is just one injector with a mixture of fast and slow, aye I'm not at home 🙂
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @Alba14
And to our happy band of Creonistas 🙂
Sounds like you’ve not had the best support from your clinic - and if you’ve not had appropriate treatment options (since T2 and T3c aren’t the same) perhaps that might go some way to explaining why you struggled and/or got disillusioned with your diabetes management?
Hope you get on well with your start on insulin. Mixed insulins can work well for some people, but some find them a bit inflexible as you can’t adjust the meal part separately from the background part… so you need to eat the same sized meals every day, and to the schedule that the insulin requires.
Taking background insulin and meal insulin separately means 5-6 jabs a day rather than 2 a day… But it is much more tweakable and flexible 🙂
Let us know how you get on with the insulin, and fire away with any questions 🙂
And to our happy band of Creonistas 🙂
Sounds like you’ve not had the best support from your clinic - and if you’ve not had appropriate treatment options (since T2 and T3c aren’t the same) perhaps that might go some way to explaining why you struggled and/or got disillusioned with your diabetes management?
Hope you get on well with your start on insulin. Mixed insulins can work well for some people, but some find them a bit inflexible as you can’t adjust the meal part separately from the background part… so you need to eat the same sized meals every day, and to the schedule that the insulin requires.
Taking background insulin and meal insulin separately means 5-6 jabs a day rather than 2 a day… But it is much more tweakable and flexible 🙂
Let us know how you get on with the insulin, and fire away with any questions 🙂
- Status