Couple of Questions

[tanyatype1]

I'm wondering ~ if your pancreas is ruined from something other than an autoimmune response, are you still considered Type 1 because you need insulin, or would it be called something else? I just thought that the only way to define Type 1 diabetes was ~ if you need to take insulin because of an autoimmune response that killed off your beta-cells in your pancreas. Or is this another, kind of grey area?

Another question ~ I've read numerous times lately that the pancreas in a Type 1 diabetic is "dead" but I've also read that the pancreas has other functions other than just producing insulin. I know that the beta cells have been killed off but there are other cells that release other hormones right? I know I could just google these questions but I figured that I'd ask them here at DF so that others could read the responses too. Thanks!

[JediSkipdogg]

In my opinion and the opinion of alot of medical journals...a type 1 is diabetes caused by the autoimmune disorder. Anything else would be classified as type 2 since it's more "curable" in a sense.

I think there needs to be alot more dividing of types and they actually need to get rid of the type numbers. You type hear cancer talked about as...He had cancer type 32. Heck, with diabetes there's alot of debate if type 1.5 really exists or are they just type 1s. The cause is the same, just the diagnosis and onset time is later. Then there's a mystery type 3 out there that has about 10 different reasons behind it.

As for the pancreas, it is not dead. The ONLY part that is attacked are the islet cells of the pancreas which have the sole job of producing insulin and C-Peptide. The attacking part occurs during the maturity of the islet cells before they can full grow and start to produce insulin, however, it's been proven time and time again that if the immune disorder is stopped, then the pancreas will replenish itself with islet cells.

[tanyatype1]

Thanks Jedi. Can someone live without their pancreas? What if someone has Pancreatitis and started having to take insulin - would they not be considered type 1?

During the whole Halle Barry thing, it was said a couple of times that her pancreas was dead, and that was kinda bugging me because I felt strongly that that wasn't correct. First there was the misinformation about her curing her Type 1diabetes, then it was said that curing yourself was impossible because Type 1's pancreas's are "dead."

[cheryl]

Some type 1's like myself still have a small amount of beta cell function, it is so small I'd be dead if I didn't take insulin but it still produces a tiny tiny amount, so maybe she found something that killed the autoimmune disorder(yea I know wishful thinking), but I tend to think there has to be something that gives us this autoimmune disorder. Becasue it is not like AIDS, you cant catch it.....so it has to be food, I think it is. Maybe an allergy to something.....I know tests are inconclusive, but why else would you just pop up with an autoimmune disorder.....Cancer can be cause by food, or smoking or stress, so why not diabetes, type 1 that is. It makes sense to me, I figured out for me, and I don't like talking about it, that there is a big allergy to milk and dairy in my family, I started to stay away from dairy and my ISF, goes up and up, don't know if there is a connection, and not like that means anything, but I figure it is my disease my body, let me do my own food experiements to see....can't hurt....LOL..

Cheryl

[BlueSky]

... Can someone live without their pancreas? .....
The pancreas also produces digestive enzymes, without which the stomach wouldn't be able to break down carbohydrate, protein and fat. So, no, you couldn't live without a pancreas.

[lilituc]

The main problem is only having two types, officially. There are plenty more types out there. Personally I think Type 1 is due to an autoimmune attack. There are people with very similar diabetes due to pancreatitis, and sometimes their doctor says they are Type 1 or sometimes Type 2 (mainly based on the cause, not the actual diabetes). I would say they are neither type.

[marked]

there is another hormone as well, amylin, which is not produced in the type 1's pancreas, amylin slows the digestion process in people without diabetes.
Mark

[soso]

My GI doc told me that the pancreas puts out about 2 litres of fluid per day (presumably carrying the enymes) I do remember posting back and forth with someone who had had most of his pancreas removed.. he took the enzymes in capsule form.. I had to do that for a while after my pancreatitus attacks.. they were quite big ..and expensive...
I still have a lot of digestive problems, but not sure if I should be continuing with the enzyme supplementation... am too tired of it all to keep going back and forth all the time, I just try to muddle along now.. I have always wondered though about whether it is all tied up with the diabetes or vice versa, seems a bit too much of a coincidence.. also would explain why the endo called me a T2 while my GP calls me a T1....I agree I wish there was something simple I could say when asked..