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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.
Type 3c
- Thread starter Mac05
- Start date
victorhamesse
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
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- He/Him
My endocrinologist tells me that types 1 and 3c have the same basic treatment - i.e. need for administered insulin. Are you at risk of that, if not then you may well be a type 2. Does your blood sugar recover from a high carb/high sugar meal ? i.e. reduce back down again ? I say this as I was thought to be a type 3c (damaged pancreas etc etc) but as it still makes 50% of normal insulin levels, I was eventually classed as a type 2.
rebrascora
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- Type 1
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- She/Her
Type 3c diabetes is diabetes (elevated HbA1c) due to damage to the pancreas from disease, alcohol, surgery or trauma or a combination of those things. It is the cause that identifies the Type of diabetes not the treatment.
@victorhamesse There are some Type 3cs who are able to manage their diabetes through oral meds and dietary changes because they still have some insulin production and some who need insulin because they are not able to produce much at all, depending upon how damaged their pancreas is. If you only have 50% of normal insulin production then that means that your pancreas is significantly damaged and if that damage is due to pancreatitis or some other disease or alcohol consumption or because half your pancreas had been removed, then you have Type 3c.
@Mac05 Do you know what has caused or is causing the damage to your pancreas? Have you had an HbA1c blood test done? This is the blood test used to diagnose diabetes and then monitor our management of it thereafter and will usually be a number in excess of 47 if you have a formal diagnosis and between 42 and 47 if you are "at risk" of developing diabetes.
@victorhamesse There are some Type 3cs who are able to manage their diabetes through oral meds and dietary changes because they still have some insulin production and some who need insulin because they are not able to produce much at all, depending upon how damaged their pancreas is. If you only have 50% of normal insulin production then that means that your pancreas is significantly damaged and if that damage is due to pancreatitis or some other disease or alcohol consumption or because half your pancreas had been removed, then you have Type 3c.
@Mac05 Do you know what has caused or is causing the damage to your pancreas? Have you had an HbA1c blood test done? This is the blood test used to diagnose diabetes and then monitor our management of it thereafter and will usually be a number in excess of 47 if you have a formal diagnosis and between 42 and 47 if you are "at risk" of developing diabetes.
victorhamesse
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
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Tell that to my endo consultant.
Hi all, thank you for your replies. In July 2024 chronic pancreatitis was picked up on a virtual colonoscopy for an unrelated condition. My consultant at the time didn’t tell me even though it fit with all my symptoms. I found out myself after reading the full report. It’s taken until yesterday to have a further targeted scan which has confirmed widespread calcification. To be honest I just feel lost and would appreciate any info on what to expect/look out for.
victorhamesse
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
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Your report sounds just like mine. I have a shrunk (atrophied) stone encrusted (calcified - probably gall stones) pancreas. Over 3 years I had 4 endoscopies - 3 in the diagnosis year (2018). As well as the insulin problem I make no digestive enzymes so I have to take Creon (pancreatin) in reasonable amounts (3x 100 25K unit capsule bottles a month). It took a different consultant to discover this at the end of 2018.
Are you losing weight ? If so you might also need Creon - push for a stool analysis to find out. My consultants have needed no actions from me to provide info but, as this forum shows, lots of variation across the UK in this.
Have you a blood sugar tester ? Vital in our case (but I now have access to the Libre2+ arm sensors through self funding). Get your local surgery diabetic nurse (most have them) to put you on the list for treatment and follow-up, that should get you a free meter and test strips/prickers. Again it seems there is great variability in this.
Are you taking any diabetes meds ? I started out on the lowest level of Gliclazide and stopped after 6 months as my HbA1c score had dropped from 90 to 50. No Metformin (mistake) until 5 years later when my score went back up to 90. Now back to under 48 with some effort from me wrt diet. Gliclazide works by poking the pancreas to make more sugar (IMO problematic for the long term with a damaged pancreas). Metformin works on the liver to slow down the release of glycogen (stored glucose that the body needs, usually early in the day) - seems to be OK for the long term.
Can you afford £106 a month for 2x Libre2+ sensors or £70 a month for 2x Dexcom 1 sensors - worth it for trial period IMO (Libre will give you a single unit free trial).
Can't think of anything else at the moment.
Are you losing weight ? If so you might also need Creon - push for a stool analysis to find out. My consultants have needed no actions from me to provide info but, as this forum shows, lots of variation across the UK in this.
Have you a blood sugar tester ? Vital in our case (but I now have access to the Libre2+ arm sensors through self funding). Get your local surgery diabetic nurse (most have them) to put you on the list for treatment and follow-up, that should get you a free meter and test strips/prickers. Again it seems there is great variability in this.
Are you taking any diabetes meds ? I started out on the lowest level of Gliclazide and stopped after 6 months as my HbA1c score had dropped from 90 to 50. No Metformin (mistake) until 5 years later when my score went back up to 90. Now back to under 48 with some effort from me wrt diet. Gliclazide works by poking the pancreas to make more sugar (IMO problematic for the long term with a damaged pancreas). Metformin works on the liver to slow down the release of glycogen (stored glucose that the body needs, usually early in the day) - seems to be OK for the long term.
Can you afford £106 a month for 2x Libre2+ sensors or £70 a month for 2x Dexcom 1 sensors - worth it for trial period IMO (Libre will give you a single unit free trial).
Can't think of anything else at the moment.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Do you know your HbA1c result? If you actually have a diabetes diagnosis (ie HbA1c of 48 or more), then you can apply to Abbott for a free 15 day trial of their Freestyle Libre 2 Plus sensor system, provided you have a compatible phone to use with it and most smart phones are compatible, however I would highly recommend that you get a Blood Glucose (BG) meter first which works by finger pricking and do some testing around foods to see how your body responds to various foods/meals so that you start to get an idea of what is normal before using the Libre because there are situations where Libre and indeed other CGM are not reliable and can cause people concern if they have no means to double check those occasions where it gives dubious results. The 3 we recommend for people who are self testing ate the Contour Blue Plus, the Gluco Navii and the Spirit Healthcare Tee2. These are at the cheaper end of the market for self funding but have also been tried and tested by many members here and found reliable whereas some cheaper ones have caused issues. The main cost with finger prick testing is the test strips and these 3 meters above all have pots of 50 test strips for about £10. The test strips are not universal, so if you buy a meter, you have to buy test strips for that meter. Some companies will give away the meter kits, but the test strips for those meters are very expensive and that is where they make their money, so don't be tempted by apparent freebies or special offers, without understanding what is required. You get through a lot of test strips in the early days of testing.
Once you get used to finger prick testing then a sensor every now and then can be helpful in fine tuning things, but I would not recommend using a sensor if you don't have a meter to double check it on occasion.
Generally you will only be prescribed a meter and test strips on the NHS if you are prescribed certain medication like Gliclazide or insulin which can cause hypos, but some GP practices are more enlightened and will provide a meter and limited test strips to patients who are prepared to engage with their diabetes management and use it effectively, so you might be able to persuade the nurse to supply one, however without prescribed test strips you may end up forking out more than buying one of the meters mentioned above because reps leave freebie meters with GPs and nurses in the hope that people will buy the test strips for them, if they are given the meter.
Anyway, if you can provide us with a bit more info about your HbA1c result (if indeed you have had that test done and if not, then ask for it) and what symptoms you have been experiencing? And also if you have been tested for Pancreatic Enzyme Insufficiency (PEI) via a Fecal Elastase test on a stool sample.... or if you have perhaps already been prescribed Creon which is the brand names Pancreatic Enzyme supplement most frequently prescribed here.
Once you get used to finger prick testing then a sensor every now and then can be helpful in fine tuning things, but I would not recommend using a sensor if you don't have a meter to double check it on occasion.
Generally you will only be prescribed a meter and test strips on the NHS if you are prescribed certain medication like Gliclazide or insulin which can cause hypos, but some GP practices are more enlightened and will provide a meter and limited test strips to patients who are prepared to engage with their diabetes management and use it effectively, so you might be able to persuade the nurse to supply one, however without prescribed test strips you may end up forking out more than buying one of the meters mentioned above because reps leave freebie meters with GPs and nurses in the hope that people will buy the test strips for them, if they are given the meter.
Anyway, if you can provide us with a bit more info about your HbA1c result (if indeed you have had that test done and if not, then ask for it) and what symptoms you have been experiencing? And also if you have been tested for Pancreatic Enzyme Insufficiency (PEI) via a Fecal Elastase test on a stool sample.... or if you have perhaps already been prescribed Creon which is the brand names Pancreatic Enzyme supplement most frequently prescribed here.
Lucyr
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
£103.48 for 2 x libre 2+ sensors which is likely overkill if not currently on insulin
victorhamesse
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- He/Him
That's what I thought. Creon though is an endocrine insufficiency - I am told - not an exocrine. Still, I have the medication I need.
This is directed to victorhamesse
It is important to have the correct diagnosis/ categorisation of you diabetes type, I would encourage you to challenge type 2 diagnosis with your healthcare professional
So sorry you feel a little lost, such a diagnosis can be hard to take initially.
As others have said please supply information about your current meds and any further questions you might have. There are several type 3c’s on here who will be more than happy to try to support you and answer your concerns
nonethewiser
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
No your getting confused between two my friend, Creon is to replace lost exocrine enzymes that your pancreas would normally produce to help break down food during digestion, unlike insulin which is released into blood stream therefore this process is called endocrine.
8 years ago was diagnosed with EPI so take creon with meals, never been told I'm anything other than type 1.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Sorry you’ve been left without much information @Mac05
It’s fairly basic, but there’s a simple guide to 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...
From reading experiences of our growing band of Creonistas, it seems to be quite a varied condition with significantly varying treatment options based on the amount of damage to (or complete surgical removal of) the pancreas.
Have you been given a means of monitoring your blood glucose levels yet? And have you been offered BG medication and Creon?