Hi and hello , after being a type 2 diabetic for over 20 years, I have been told It is possible I am type 3c which is new to me I am awaiting blood test so I wonder how this will change my diabetes.
Hello and welcome from me
@Eastbournebelle, my entry to the T3c club was abrupt and extreme when I surrendered my panc'y to a cancerous tumour that was trying to swallow it!
I mention this to help you understand that there are various pathways that can lead to a diagnosis of T3c. Most who arrive at T3c have had long periods, often many years, of debilitating "other" ailments causing damage to their pancreas and thus badly affecting their ability to make insulin. Our common factors are having a damaged pancreas and usually needing to manage another ailment that's causinf the pancreatic damage. The link provided earlier by
@Leadinglights to DUK's explanation is really useful to someone totally new to Diabetes and probably both stunned and confused by it all. DUK doesn't use the adjective "secondary", but I've seen T3c described elsewhere as one of "several other secondary types of diabetes".
Now that someone (GP? Consultant after a referral?) has advised you that it is possible you are T3c, the possible 2 big changes could be:
Adjustments in your medications for managing your D, including the possibility of insulin being prescribed.
Recognition that the cause of your D needs, in itself, appropriate awareness and possible further different treatment. Your diabetes is the possible consequence of another ailment. Better focus on that might help your pancreas to manage better and possibly create some respite for your overworked pancreas.
However all of this is solely speculation on my part. Do you know why someone thinks it is possible you might be T3c? Meanwhile how are you doing with managing your T2 both in recent months and now since the possible rediagnosis? What is your current T2 treatment - oral meds or insulin? Do you have a test meter and get finger prick test results to help you monitor and manage your D?
If you'd like to tell us a little more we can not just respond sympathetically but perhaps add some value with our thoughts on how you might move forward. If perhaps some diet changes are needed there could be many useful pointers from here; or if a Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Thereapy (PERT) such as Creon needs to be introduced into your medication there are several of us here who have experience with this. Or .... and the permutations are endless. Hence a little more info, if you are happy to do this, on the background to your original diagnosis of T2 and what has changed, would help answer your question how this will (or might) change your diabetes management in the future.
Meanwhile good luck.
