Hi I have just been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. My diabetic nurse said secondary diabetes but if not shown then type 1. Although I knew it was going to happen after surgery to remove 3/4 of my pancreas it was still hard. I currently administer 4 injections a day and just trying to get the insulin right. I don’t know anyone else with diabetes so thought to join.
-
Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
-
Learn more about joining the Diabetes UK Support Forum team here: https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/volunteering-opportunities-why-dont-you-join-us.112862/
Hi
- Thread starter Jac60
- Start date
- Status
Lily123
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Welcome to the forum
As you’ve had part of your pancreas removed you’ll be Type 3c (Should be entitled to the same treatment as Type 1)
I’ll tag a few other 3c @Proud to be erratic @eggyg @soupdragon
As you’ve had part of your pancreas removed you’ll be Type 3c (Should be entitled to the same treatment as Type 1)
I’ll tag a few other 3c @Proud to be erratic @eggyg @soupdragon
Thank you
Proud to be erratic
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 3c
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hello @Jac60. Welcome to the forum and the very small (select?) club of Type 3c - as if Type 1, but not Type 1. I'll try to explain that.
In his book "Think Like a Pancreas" (which I found very helpful and was the first source of information that I leant on after my surgery) Gary Scheiner states 'Diabetes is Complicated, Confusing and Contradictory - a statement I wholeheartedly agree with and I would also add 'frightening' (at first).
Frightening (at first) .... I was indoctrinated at around age 20 to believe that Knowledge Dispels Fear and I still lean on that idea to help me. Having given Gary Scheiner's book a plug, I would also add the book by Ragnar Hanas "Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Young Adolescents" is different and also very good - great reference material on T1 for a 73 Yr old, as well as children. But if right now a couple of reference books is too much to get your head around, this forum is also chock full of truly useful information from people who live with Diabetes Mellitus (DM), who are friendly, who don't judge - just help - who are not sponsored to offer their thoughts and advice AND who are happy to answer questions. No question is stupid - we've all been there.
Confusing .... straightaway: why Type 3c, but not Type 1 - yet the hospital say T1? Your treatment is "as if T1", ie insulin dependent, with Multiple Daily Injections (MDI). But the treatment for DM is NOT the cause and its the cause that gives the diagnosis, not the treatment. There are several types of DM, almost all of which types tell you nothing in the title about their cause!
Type 1 is traditionally for people unable to make insulin because of an autoimmune condition that destroys their ability to make insulin, c10% of those with DM; you had surgery which stopped your insulin production, but you don't have the autoimmune condition.
Type 2 is for people who produce plenty of insulin, but their bodies are extremely resistant to their insulin - for a number of reasons, c.90% of the DM population.
The rest of us, a tiny proportion of the total with DM, have diabetes which doesn't fit a diagnosis of T1 or T2 and all but one (I think) also have titles that tell you nothing about the cause (the exception is Gestational Diabetes); these include types such as MODY, LADA and the family of T3s (technically T3 a-k).
T3 on its own is used in N America for people with dementia and DM, but T3 doesn't seem to be accepted or used in Europe. (Confusing ....)
Almost all of the other T3 a-k are people with damage to their pancreas, for a host of reasons other than the autoimmune condition, such as: major surgery (you and I), major pancreatic injury from accident, illnesses that destroyed their pancreas (partially or totally) such as pancreatitis or in my case Pancreatic Cancer (PC), from steroid damage or alcohol and a number of other pancreas damaging circumstances. Many of this tiny proportion are also insulin dependent - but not all, some T3s are on oral meds only and thus as if T2 (but some T2s are insulin dependent!).
Type 3c was originally specifically for people with pancreatitis and those who had surgery for PC. Since the T3s are such a small proportion of those with DM, many Health Care Practicioners (HCPs) have not even heard of this Type of Diabetes (Confusing ....?). But most of us have 2 fairly different medical conditions: our DM and the original cause and often are managing 2 medical conditions which can need contradictory medication.
Anyway enough for now. If you'd like to tell us a little more about why you needed the pancreatic surgery, what insulins you are on, whether you are carb counting, have you been offered a CGM such as Libre 2, other medications such as Creon and anything that is challenging you right now - I'm sure folks here will offer help and their moral support. You DO NOT HAVE to tell us anything if you'd prefer not to. But some background info would allow us to tailor our suggestions and help appropriately.
Good luck with it all. DM is very daunting at first, but knowledge helps you manage it and it does get easier - even it it doesn't feel like that right now.
In his book "Think Like a Pancreas" (which I found very helpful and was the first source of information that I leant on after my surgery) Gary Scheiner states 'Diabetes is Complicated, Confusing and Contradictory - a statement I wholeheartedly agree with and I would also add 'frightening' (at first).
Frightening (at first) .... I was indoctrinated at around age 20 to believe that Knowledge Dispels Fear and I still lean on that idea to help me. Having given Gary Scheiner's book a plug, I would also add the book by Ragnar Hanas "Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Young Adolescents" is different and also very good - great reference material on T1 for a 73 Yr old, as well as children. But if right now a couple of reference books is too much to get your head around, this forum is also chock full of truly useful information from people who live with Diabetes Mellitus (DM), who are friendly, who don't judge - just help - who are not sponsored to offer their thoughts and advice AND who are happy to answer questions. No question is stupid - we've all been there.
Confusing .... straightaway: why Type 3c, but not Type 1 - yet the hospital say T1? Your treatment is "as if T1", ie insulin dependent, with Multiple Daily Injections (MDI). But the treatment for DM is NOT the cause and its the cause that gives the diagnosis, not the treatment. There are several types of DM, almost all of which types tell you nothing in the title about their cause!
Type 1 is traditionally for people unable to make insulin because of an autoimmune condition that destroys their ability to make insulin, c10% of those with DM; you had surgery which stopped your insulin production, but you don't have the autoimmune condition.
Type 2 is for people who produce plenty of insulin, but their bodies are extremely resistant to their insulin - for a number of reasons, c.90% of the DM population.
The rest of us, a tiny proportion of the total with DM, have diabetes which doesn't fit a diagnosis of T1 or T2 and all but one (I think) also have titles that tell you nothing about the cause (the exception is Gestational Diabetes); these include types such as MODY, LADA and the family of T3s (technically T3 a-k).
T3 on its own is used in N America for people with dementia and DM, but T3 doesn't seem to be accepted or used in Europe. (Confusing ....)
Almost all of the other T3 a-k are people with damage to their pancreas, for a host of reasons other than the autoimmune condition, such as: major surgery (you and I), major pancreatic injury from accident, illnesses that destroyed their pancreas (partially or totally) such as pancreatitis or in my case Pancreatic Cancer (PC), from steroid damage or alcohol and a number of other pancreas damaging circumstances. Many of this tiny proportion are also insulin dependent - but not all, some T3s are on oral meds only and thus as if T2 (but some T2s are insulin dependent!).
Type 3c was originally specifically for people with pancreatitis and those who had surgery for PC. Since the T3s are such a small proportion of those with DM, many Health Care Practicioners (HCPs) have not even heard of this Type of Diabetes (Confusing ....?). But most of us have 2 fairly different medical conditions: our DM and the original cause and often are managing 2 medical conditions which can need contradictory medication.
Anyway enough for now. If you'd like to tell us a little more about why you needed the pancreatic surgery, what insulins you are on, whether you are carb counting, have you been offered a CGM such as Libre 2, other medications such as Creon and anything that is challenging you right now - I'm sure folks here will offer help and their moral support. You DO NOT HAVE to tell us anything if you'd prefer not to. But some background info would allow us to tailor our suggestions and help appropriately.
Good luck with it all. DM is very daunting at first, but knowledge helps you manage it and it does get easier - even it it doesn't feel like that right now.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @Jac60
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis
Which insulins are you on?
And are you taking Creon to help replace the enzymes from your pancreas after the surgery?
There’s a little more about Type 3c here:
What is type 3c diabetes?
You may have heard of the more common types of diabetes like type 1, type 2 and gestational. But there are actually many other types of diabetes that aren't as well known. Type 3c diabetes develops because of the damage to the pancreas, which can happen for a few different reasons. And although...
which you might find helpful?
And keep asking questions - we have several friendly helpful ‘creonistas‘ whose brains you can pick 🙂
soupdragon
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 3c
Hi @Jac60 and welcome.
I'm Type 3c caused by pancreatitis, but recorded in some places as Type 1.
It's quite a juggling act with insulin and Creon, especially at the beginning.
I hope you're being given a lot of support. Are you being treated/supported by a hospital endocrinology team? Do you have access to Libre or another CGM?
Any questions or anything we can help with please feel free to ask.
I'm Type 3c caused by pancreatitis, but recorded in some places as Type 1.
It's quite a juggling act with insulin and Creon, especially at the beginning.
I hope you're being given a lot of support. Are you being treated/supported by a hospital endocrinology team? Do you have access to Libre or another CGM?
Any questions or anything we can help with please feel free to ask.
- Status