Maybe a future 3c diabetic

[Mariov]

Hi all,

I hope you are well and safe !


Mario is the name , 43 years old Greek/Australian that made UK his home over 15 years ago. Overall so and so healthly , no smoker and very very mild drinker (3-4 units per week and not every week). My weakness is food so I am a touch overweight (27 BMI) but for the past year I have been running a lot and my over health has improved dramatically . According to my running watch I have the heart of a 24 and the maturity of a 6 years old (love to joke)! Married to an amazing woman and we have a 7 years old little girl ! My life was amazing until Sept 2020!

Cut the long story short (happy to share if anyone is interested) I might have to have a total pancreatic removal to proactively fight a potential of c ! I was told I don’t have the c but I am in a high risk due to the number of cysts found. That will make me a diabetic type 3c which is similar to Type1 with the difference I need to have the enzyme pills with my food.

I won’t lie , prior this situation I never really understood what diabetes meant and while I am scared as long as the doc can confirm that I don’t the damn c and the surgery won’t kill me I am sure with the right support it won’t be as bad.

I am very scared of the operation and if anyone here has gone to a similar procedure I would love to meet you and of course I would love to get to understand and ask for your support about what is life like as a diabetic ! I have a friend at work that he is Type 1 and he had been an amazing help but he was born with it. I would love to learn from all newbies and veterans!
Many thanks for reading and I hope we can all help each other.

I will know more next week about my situation !

Btw i am very lucky as I don’t have the c or have been able to catch it so so early

Mario

 

[SB2015]

Hi Mario and welcome to the forum

As you say Type 3c is similar to T1 but with the addition of the need to take enzymes for digestion’s. I will flag @eggyg who is a veteran of 3c who will be able to help you more.

I can understand your concerns but this is a manageable condition, but things just need a bit more planning and organisation. Like you I knew nothing about D until I was diagnosed at the age of 53. There is a steep learning curve at the start, but you have prior warning so can, and already have started doing your homework. The best analogy I have heard is likening T1(and 3c) to learning to drive. It all seems very complicated at the start but soon becomes just part of your normal life. There will be hiccoughs on the way but you find ways round them.

Keep in touch on here and there is plenty of help and support. It is also a good place for a rant if needed.

 

[Mariov]

Many thanks SB2015 🙂

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Mariov 🙂

There are a number of people with 3c here. @eggyg is one, I believe. You can also use the search function at the top of the page to search for words related to your situation.

It’s completely understandable that you’re nervous about the operation. Anyone would be. But it sounds like you’ve got a good team of people looking after your health.

Wishing you a speedy recovery after you have your operation 🙂

 

[eggyg]

Morning @Mariov. As has been said I’m a “ veteran” Type 3c, thanks Sue for that, I like it! I also had to have a pancreatic resection, in my case distal, removal of tail and body, also because of cysts which if not removed would more than likely turn cancerous. The good news is that I didn’t become diabetic for three years and didn’t need insulin for another four years. Obviously if you’re having a total pancreatectomy you will be diabetic straight away. You’re lucky that your HCPs know about Type 3c, I was told I was Type 2 and to lose weight and exercise! Duh! Even I knew that wasn’t going to help. I will cut a very long story short and say that I challenged them and got my type changed and am treat as a type 1, and take shedloads of Creon, ( digestive enzyme) which I started on before my op 13 years ago. 10 years down the diabetic line, I’m still here, living life to the full and as I always tell everyone, if all I came out with from the op was diabetes that’s fine, it could have been a hell of a lot worse. When is the op planned for and do you know what it will be, Whipple, distal or total pancreatectomy? Any questions at all please contact me, here on the open forum of PM me. It can be a lonely place being one of the “weird” diabetics! Best wishes Elaine.🙂
Edited to add. Any op on the pancreas is a big deal and I was in hospital for three weeks and I’m not going to lie I wasn’t well but I had a fantastic team who did everything they could to get me sorted. I was off work for a month prior as I wasn’t well and then four months after, going back on a phased return. I also had my spleen out, that’s quite usual I think. So had lots of vaccinations before hand, pneumonia, meningitis something or other and now take Penicillin everyday. I’m very active, climb fells, walk for miles and run after my four grandchildren!

 

[martindt1606]

Hi all,

I hope you are well and safe !


Mario is the name , 43 years old Greek/Australian that made UK his home over 15 years ago. Overall so and so healthly , no smoker and very very mild drinker (3-4 units per week and not every week). My weakness is food so I am a touch overweight (27 BMI) but for the past year I have been running a lot and my over health has improved dramatically . According to my running watch I have the heart of a 24 and the maturity of a 6 years old (love to joke)! Married to an amazing woman and we have a 7 years old little girl ! My life was amazing until Sept 2020!

Cut the long story short (happy to share if anyone is interested) I might have to have a total pancreatic removal to proactively fight a potential of c ! I was told I don’t have the c but I am in a high risk due to the number of cysts found. That will make me a diabetic type 3c which is similar to Type1 with the difference I need to have the enzyme pills with my food.

I won’t lie , prior this situation I never really understood what diabetes meant and while I am scared as long as the doc can confirm that I don’t the damn c and the surgery won’t kill me I am sure with the right support it won’t be as bad.

I am very scared of the operation and if anyone here has gone to a similar procedure I would love to meet you and of course I would love to get to understand and ask for your support about what is life like as a diabetic ! I have a friend at work that he is Type 1 and he had been an amazing help but he was born with it. I would love to learn from all newbies and veterans!
Many thanks for reading and I hope we can all help each other.

I will know more next week about my situation !

Btw i am very lucky as I don’t have the c or have been able to catch it so so early

Mario

Mario, similar story i was diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Tumours on the Pancreas back in 2004. Had total Pancreactomy in 2010. Happy to discuss the last 10 years should you have yo go down this path. If you do need the operation, try and make sure you meet with a dietitian and the diabetes team before hand, You need to understand how to self dose the enzyme and insulin. Do this before not after the operation. Also get the diabetes team to start the process for getting a Continuous Glucose Monitor and Insulin Pump. It took me 6 years to get a pump and 9 years the CGM we should get them as standard,