{"entity":{"id":"type-3c-diabetes-pancreatic-cancer","kind":"term","name":"Type 3c diabetes with pancreatic cancer","aka":["type 3c diabetes","pancreatogenic diabetes","diabetes after Whipple"],"tldr":"Pancreatic cancer or surgery to remove part or all of the pancreas can stop it making enough insulin and glucagon; the result is type 3c diabetes, which behaves differently from type 1 and type 2, usually needs tablets or insulin, and is best managed by a diabetes nurse and a specialist dietitian who know you have pancreatic cancer.","summary":"Pancreatic Cancer UK says the pancreas normally makes insulin and glucagon to keep blood sugar steady, that the cancer or its removal can stop it making enough of either, and that this is type 3c diabetes: blood sugar may run too high or too low, a lot of type 1 and type 2 information may not be right for you, and most people need medicine. Symptoms are thirst, weight loss, passing urine more often, fatigue, light-headedness, palpitations, sweating and confusion. It asks you to make sure you know who to contact about your diabetes, to tell the diabetes nurse and dietitian that you have type 3c diabetes and pancreatic cancer, and to ask for a specialist dietitian referral if you have not had one. After a Whipple operation, blood sugar is checked in hospital and you are asked to see your GP for thirst or passing urine more often at home; a systematic review (Scholten 2018) found new diabetes after pancreatoduodenectomy in about 16 in 100 people. If the whole pancreas is removed, insulin is needed for life (Macmillan).\n\nCancer Research UK says treatment may be insulin injections or tablets such as metformin, that you are referred to a specialist diabetic nurse and taught to test blood sugar by finger prick or a skin sensor, what to eat, how to inject and what to do if sugar drops too low; some nutritional supplement drinks affect blood sugar, so check with the dietitian. Pancreatic Cancer UK says if you take insulin you must tell the DVLA (DVA in Northern Ireland) and not drive until they say you can. Recently diagnosed diabetes can also be a symptom of pancreatic cancer before diagnosis. This is orientation from public patient pages and guidelines, not advice for your case: your own team's instructions and 24-hour number come first.","asOf":"2026-09-24","links":[{"label":"Pancreatic Cancer UK: managing diabetes if you have pancreatic cancer (type 3c diabetes)","url":"https://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/information-and-support/managing-symptoms-and-side-effects/diabetes-with-pancreatic-cancer/"},{"label":"Cancer Research UK: your diet and pancreatic cancer","url":"https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/pancreatic-cancer/living-with/diet"},{"label":"Pancreatic Cancer UK: side effects of surgery","url":"https://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/information-and-support/treatments-for-pancreatic-cancer/surgery-for-pancreatic-cancer/side-effects-of-surgery/"},{"label":"Macmillan: surgery for pancreatic cancer, before and after","url":"https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatments-and-drugs/surgery-for-pancreatic-cancer"},{"label":"Scholten et al., new-onset diabetes after pancreatoduodenectomy, systematic review and meta-analysis (Surgery 2018)","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2018.01.024"}],"tags":["gi","pancreatic"],"related":[],"cancers":["pancreatic"],"sections":[],"technologies":[],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":[],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":["whipple","pancreatic-enzyme-replacement","new-onset-diabetes-pancreatic-cancer"],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"category":"Side effects"},"route":"/terms/type-3c-diabetes-pancreatic-cancer/","neighbours":{"cancer":[{"id":"pancreatic","kind":"cancer","name":"Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma","route":"/cancers/pancreatic/"}],"term":[{"id":"new-onset-diabetes-pancreatic-cancer","kind":"term","name":"New-onset diabetes as a signal of pancreatic cancer (and the ENDPAC score)","route":"/terms/new-onset-diabetes-pancreatic-cancer/"},{"id":"pancreatic-enzyme-replacement","kind":"term","name":"Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT, pancreatin, Creon) for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency: why and how to take it","route":"/terms/pancreatic-enzyme-replacement/"},{"id":"whipple","kind":"term","name":"Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy)","route":"/terms/whipple/"}]}}