14th September 2024

Type 3c diabetes

Type 3c diabetes encompasses all those causes of secondary diabetes, usually from pancreatic damage. The majority (>70%) are accounted for by chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatic cancer is another important cause, and NICE recommend considering a CT abdomen for those patients above 60 years old with new onset diabetes. Cystic fibrosis, hereditary hemochromatosis, and pancreatic resection are three other causes. Type 3c diabetes should be suspected in older patients who exhibit exocrine dysfunction (such as low fecal elastase or vitamin ADEK deficiency), have an identifiable cause, and lack Type 1 diabetes-associated antibodies. The treatment for Type 3c diabetes is similar to that for Type 2 diabetes, primarily involving oral agents.

References

• Ewald, N., Kaufmann, C., Raspe, A., Kloer, H. U., Bretzel, R. G., & Hardt, P. D. (2012). Prevalence of diabetes mellitus secondary to pancreatic diseases (type 3c). Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, 28(4), 338–342. https://doi.org/10.1002/dmrr.2260
• Diabetes mellitus secondary to pancreatic diseases (Type 3c) — Are we neglecting an important disease? Nils Ewald and Reinhard G. Bretzel; European Journal of Internal Medicine, 2013-04-01, Volume 24, Issue 3, Pages 203-206