Type 3c diabetes starting insulin

[Aucklet]

Hi and welcome

Sorry to hear about your cancer diagnosis. Hope you are getting timely treatment in these difficult times.

Can you tell us what if any medication you are on for your diabetes as that makes a difference as to whether you need to inform DVLA, not the diabetes diagnosis itself. If you are not on medication which can cause a hypo then there is no requirement to inform them as being hyper is surprisingly not considered a problem as regards driving.

Hello,
I see you are a well-known member - I would appreciate advice on starting minimal slow-acting insulin for diabetes secondary to pancreatic insufficiency (also called pancreatogenic, and Americans call it type 3c).
This is my first activity on the blog.
Many thanks


2010 diagnosed type 2 diabetes by GP. Due to dramatic weight loss saw endocrinologist privately (afterwards he saw me under NHS). CT test showed damaged pancreas. Started Creon, managed blood sugar with low carbohydrate/high protein and fat diet.
2021 still a bit underweight, HbA1c has crept up to 59. I expect to start minimal long-acting Insulin soon.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome to the forum @Aucklet

The "well known member" label doesn't give me any more knowledge or status than anyone else who posts frequently on the forum. I am not medically trained and indeed have only been using insulin myself for a couple of years and the majority of the knowledge I have acquired has been from reading the comments of others on this forum and mixing that with my own limited experience to help me understand diabetes a little better, so I am not sure I am best placed to answer your query specifically, but if you can explain exactly what it is you want to know then myself and others can read it and comment and you can take from those responses whatever resonates best with you..... that is how a forum works.
There are no right or wrong answers as such because different things work for different people.
We have a few active and "well known" Type 3c members here whose guidance may be more helpful.

Are you concerned about starting insulin and if so in what way?

The thing to remember is that if you cannot produce enough yourself then you absolutely do need it. With an HbA1c of 59 your pancreas is clearly managing to squeeze some insulin out itself and together with your low carb diet it is almost keeping on top of things but it could splutter to a halt at any time.
I am guessing a small amount of long acting (basal) insulin is being suggested to help it out and perhaps take the strain off your remaining active beta cells to give them a better chance of survival/longevity. If you can elaborate more specifically on what you want to know, you should get some other answers.

@everydayupsanddowns Could you possibly split this post into it's own thread.

@eggyg and @Hepato-pancreato I wonder if either of you have any comments as I think you are both Type 3cs

 

[Aucklet]

Hi and welcome to the forum @Aucklet

The "well known member" label doesn't give me any more knowledge or status than anyone else who posts frequently on the forum. I am not medically trained and indeed have only been using insulin myself for a couple of years and the majority of the knowledge I have acquired has been from reading the comments of others on this forum and mixing that with my own limited experience to help me understand diabetes a little better, so I am not sure I am best placed to answer your query specifically, but if you can explain exactly what it is you want to know then myself and others can read it and comment and you can take from those responses whatever resonates best with you..... that is how a forum works.
There are no right or wrong answers as such because different things work for different people.
We have a few active and "well known" Type 3c members here whose guidance may be more helpful.

Are you concerned about starting insulin and if so in what way?

The thing to remember is that if you cannot produce enough yourself then you absolutely do need it. With an HbA1c of 59 your pancreas is clearly managing to squeeze some insulin out itself and together with your low carb diet it is almost keeping on top of things but it could splutter to a halt at any time.
I am guessing a small amount of long acting (basal) insulin is being suggested to help it out and perhaps take the strain off your remaining active beta cells to give them a better chance of survival/longevity. If you can elaborate more specifically on what you want to know, you should get some other answers.

@everydayupsanddowns Could you possibly split this post into it's own thread.

@eggyg and @Hepato-pancreato I wonder if either of you have any comments as I think you are both Type 3cs

Many thanks, you are absolutely right - type 3c and likely to start on long acting (basal) insulin in the near future to better manage blood sugar and protect the pancreas from failing altogether. There is some information on 3c on the internet, also Dr Bernstein's Diabetes Solution 2011 on type 1 and 2 is interesting, but no books on 3c. Before starting insulin I'd like to be well informed since my GP surgery, like others, treats me as type2 and they may lack experience of type 3c. What problems have people with type 3 had on starting insulin? - eg have lows become a serious/minor problem, and how to best avoid/manage them, what is the lowest starting dose for basal insulin, and what is the best make (Levemir?)
PS I haven't learnt how to start a new string.

 

[trophywench]

Intelligent guesswork is the best starting dose - but as long as it is an experienced diabetes consultant making the intelligent guesses and not an oncologist overstepping his own expertise you'll be OK. We each need however much we need and just because I need X and @eggyg needs Y, doesn't mean you'll need the same.

No way Pedro should you be treated as a Type 2, by anyone especially a doctor or nurse.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

PS I haven't learnt how to start a new string

No problem @Aucklet

Welcome to the forum 🙂

I’ve split your post and the replies you received into your own thread so that it will be easier to keep track of.

Most people are started on fairly conservative insulin doses, though there are general rules of thumb based on weight and other factors.

You should also discuss timings of when to take your insulinwith your Dr, and agree what you should do (both immediately, and also in respect of conversations about altering doses) in the event of repeated hypos or highs.

You may also find this page helpful

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...

www.diabetes.org.uk

 

[Aucklet]

Thank you, that's all very helpful. I'll write to my GP with questions and request an appointment with the endocrinologist. Having moved recently, I've only met this consultant twice on the phone.