Dad Has Pancreatic Cancer & Diabetes

Reading some of the postings on here made me realize how very little research there is on this type of cancer. All of us who are going through this were very suprised and shocked. I'm not sure if any of you have had problems with communicating with your doctors but there are several people involved in this process and from what I have experienced there is alot of miscommunication. What we haven't been able to get is how to manage my dad's diabetes the interal doctor and dibetes doctor give us conflicting information. Does anyone else know or have someone who has pancreatic cancer and dibetes as a result of it? You all are in my prayers this is a very emotional disease to have to go through for both patient and family members. I would appreciate any information you could provide me with. Thank you, Mytae

most pancreatic cancer is adenocarcinoma which will not impact insulin production from the pancreas. It sounds like your dad already had diabetes, which is actually a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. His management shouldnt have to change much. Was he on insulin before the diagnosis of PC?

No my Dad was not insulin dependent before he was diagnosed with pancreatic caner. My dad had syptoms of pc but we didn't know at the time his eyes had turned completely yellow and he didn't have much of an appetite. A month before he had been at the doctor's office and everything was fine it wasn't unitl he started showing severe symptoms that the doctor started running tests. When he went in the doctor told him he had diabetes the next day they called our family our family in and told us he had pancreatic cancer.

My dad passed away not long ago from PC. He did happen to have diabetes before the PC. Not that I can really give you any info on it. I only know what my dad went through with his. When we found out he had PC he was sent to the mayo clinic in jacksonville FL. Where I drove down from NC to be with him and my mom for his surgery. It was the first time I had seen him since he was diagnosed. I was kinda shocked with what i saw. The weight had melted away. His whole body was Orange and i mean orange like a pumpkin, even the white of his eyes was orange. The doc's there had told him it could cause his diabetes to go wacky. And while I was there it sure did. His blood sugar shot up over 300 more than one time. Before he was taking only a pill to control it. Then he had to take shots after they found the PC. So his did effect it. He took a non fda approved drug called protocell. Which they feel caused the next mass that grew, to shrink, it was no longer there. I am very sorry for what your family is going through, And everyone here for that matter. I wish the best for your family.
knowledge is power!
manda

after my mom started having symptoms of her PC, she went to an internist who did testing and she had also developed diabetes. She had been taking gulaphlage{spelling?} to help control her diabetes, which seemed like an endless battle before her surgery, her sugar levels would be as high as 400 plus some days. AFter her whipple surgery, she would take insulin shots in the hospital, sliding scale is what she was on, and after coming home from the hospital she would take a lancelit {spelling?} shot at bedtime, to my understanding is a long lasting insulin. Her sugar levels have been really good for the last couple months, she is no longer on the gulaphalge or the shots.
this has been such a long long road for mom & all of us, hang in there. I keep telling mom she will see that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow again.

Lynne

Dear Mytae C., My mother also had diabetes as a result of pancreatic cancer. The Dr.'s did not find it but the homecare nurse did.The blood was way too thin from meds.,for the blood clots from the cancer. The nurse did a blood sugar test and found it. Dr.'s don't even test for it 1/2 the time. They could not treat it as mom was only 2 1/2 weeks away from diagnosis to death. I am so very sorry for you and your loved ones. This is a terrible disease and not enough is known about it. God bless you and keep you, Susiemissmom