Talk Cancer » Pancreatic Cancer » Any connection of diabetes and pancreatic cancer?
Any connection of diabetes and pancreatic cancer?
Question:
I’ve been pretty lucky, both of the diabetic internists I have had will let me talk and they listen, and if it takes thirty minutes so be it. What I really like is we are fighting The Beast together. Jacquie Doctors are just like any other profession you have good ones and you have bad ones. So are patients. But before you judge non-compliant patients perhaps you should tell us how perfect you are. By the way, doctors are paid to give their professional advice whether a patient takes it is entirely up to him or her and doesn’t mean the patient doesn’t deserve advice. 
Well, it’s more than that. Doctors often have what they describe as "non-compliant" patients because, often, they are not spending the time or energy to actually listen to their patients and discover what their concerns and considerations are. I read a good article about this subject in Medscape. It noted, for instance, that lots of doctors get pissed because their patients don’t fill their prescriptions, never bothering to discover that their patients don’t have the money to fill the prescriptions, a situation which could have been remedied often by writing a script for a cheaper and equally effective med. Patients will often stop doing something because there is an unpleasant side effect to the treatment, which the doctor might ignore or poo-poo when the patient mentions it. I had a similar problem with my doctor who couldn’t seem to "hear" me when I told him that I couldn’t deal with the sulfonylureas he was prescribing for me. To his credit, when he saw that I had stopped taking them, he sat down and said "Is there something you want to tell me?" and made a point of actually listening to me and working out a treatment plan that I could live with. But not all doctors are willing to "correct" their course when they see it doesn’t work. They are more than willing to shift the blame to the patient’s "non-compliance."
Response:
You must remember that 1/2 of all MD graduated in the bottom half of thier class. Chuck – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – When I was diagnosed my doctor told me I was a "borderline diabetic" (with a bg of 236!!!) He told me to go home and avoid sugar and try to lose some weight. Great advice, eh? If I hadn’t had access to the internet and gotten on an email list for diabetics (one that was monitored by an endo) I would not have started monitoring my own glucose, or gotten in control at all. Most MDs actually know what they are doing, though we do hear the occasional horror story here on this NG. On the other hand, the vast majority of diabetics, particularly type-2s, do not comply with basic medical advice. On the whole, the MDs have a better track record than their patients. Endos have told me they wonder why they even bother because they see so few compliant cases and so many ugly outcomes. This might be the exception to the rule but I’ve had my share of incompetent doctors including one extremely incompetent endo. Not just my opinion either, my current doctor was horrified at the lack of treatment I was getting by my ex-’expert’-endocrinologist. So ask me why I even bothered with her because *I* had such a bad outcome. Doctors are just like any other profession you have good ones and you have bad ones. So are patients. But before you judge non-compliant patients perhaps you should tell us how perfect you are. By the way, doctors are paid to give their professional advice whether a patient takes it is entirely up to him or her and doesn’t mean the patient doesn’t deserve advice. Beanie, Type I (MDI, Humalog/Ultralente) To reply via email remove the "IE"
Response:
But not all doctors are willing to "correct" their course when they see it doesn’t work. They are more than willing to shift the blame to the patient’s "non-compliance."
one reason i find misc.health.diabetes to be a valuable resource is the way it promotes dialogue with patients who do not know how to negotiate with a doctor properly. sometimes it helps to fire a doctor, and storm out politely, of course. other times a log of stressors and food intake and medication intake, including magic elixers, potions and over the counter drugs, assists in getting a doctor to listen. i find that wearing long skirts, pantaloons and a wide brimmed hat plus gloves works like a charm in getting doctors to listen to eddikins. he wears lycra bike tights. we are a peculiar pair. i keep quiet. he talks when he is able. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooowwwwwwwwwwwllllllllllllll diabetics are oft treated shabbily. oh it angers me so. with respect, melee melynda reid who wears hats but does not type caps snail: p o box 378 greensboro, florida 32330
Response:
wrote (in Re: Any connection of diabetes and pancreatic cancer?): Well, it’s more than that. Doctors often have what they describe as "non-compliant" patients because, often, they are not spending the time or energy to actually listen to their patients and discover what their concerns and considerations are.
It is very important for the patient to be part of the treatment team! "More than with most diseases, diabetes care requires an ongoing dialog between patient and physician, and unlike individuals with other diseases, diabetic patients themselves make many important decisions about their care. They need appropriate education and guidance by their physician and other health care professionals. With the proper interaction between patient and physician, many hospitalizations can be avoided." That’s not just my opinion, that is a quote from the clinical guide for diabetes: Mayer B Davidson, M.D., Editor – "Diabetes Mellitus, Diagnosis and Treatment", 4th edition, 1998 (Chapter 7 – Office Management of the Daibetic Patient, page 195) —–Burton Owned by two fur people. Please de-cat me to reply.
Response:
When I was diagnosed my doctor told me I was a "borderline diabetic" (with a bg of 236!!!) He told me to go home and avoid sugar and try to lose some weight. Great advice, eh? If I hadn’t had access to the internet and gotten on an email list for diabetics (one that was monitored by an endo) I would not have started monitoring my own glucose, or gotten in control at all.
Hi. I keep hearing about getting on diabetic e-mail lists. Can you explain that to me a bit? It sounds like it could really be helpful. Thanks in advance! — Sue on the Oregon Coast
Response:
Yes, I remember reading 3-4 years ago in JAMA a study about a link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer. I thought, Something new to add on the list of complications!
Response:
Doctors are just like any other profession you have good ones and you have bad ones. So are patients. But before you judge non-compliant patients perhaps you should tell us how perfect you are. By the way, doctors are paid to give their professional advice whether a patient takes it is entirely up to him or her and doesn’t mean the patient doesn’t deserve advice.
Well, it’s more than that. Doctors often have what they describe as "non-compliant" patients because, often, they are not spending the time or energy to actually listen to their patients and discover what their concerns and considerations are. I read a good article about this subject in Medscape. It noted, for instance, that lots of doctors get pissed because their patients don’t fill their prescriptions, never bothering to discover that their patients don’t have the money to fill the prescriptions, a situation which could have been remedied often by writing a script for a cheaper and equally effective med. Patients will often stop doing something because there is an unpleasant side effect to the treatment, which the doctor might ignore or poo-poo when the patient mentions it. I had a similar problem with my doctor who couldn’t seem to "hear" me when I told him that I couldn’t deal with the sulfonylureas he was prescribing for me. To his credit, when he saw that I had stopped taking them, he sat down and said "Is there something you want to tell me?" and made a point of actually listening to me and working out a treatment plan that I could live with. But not all doctors are willing to "correct" their course when they see it doesn’t work. They are more than willing to shift the blame to the patient’s "non-compliance."
Response:
When I was diagnosed my doctor told me I was a "borderline diabetic" (with a bg of 236!!!) He told me to go home and avoid sugar and try to lose some weight. Great advice, eh? If I hadn’t had access to the internet and gotten on an email list for diabetics (one that was monitored by an endo) I would not have started monitoring my own glucose, or gotten in control at all. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Most MDs actually know what they are doing, though we do hear the occasional horror story here on this NG. On the other hand, the vast majority of diabetics, particularly type-2s, do not comply with basic medical advice. On the whole, the MDs have a better track record than their patients. Endos have told me they wonder why they even bother because they see so few compliant cases and so many ugly outcomes. This might be the exception to the rule but I’ve had my share of incompetent doctors including one extremely incompetent endo. Not just my opinion either, my current doctor was horrified at the lack of treatment I was getting by my ex-’expert’-endocrinologist. So ask me why I even bothered with her because *I* had such a bad outcome. Doctors are just like any other profession you have good ones and you have bad ones. So are patients. But before you judge non-compliant patients perhaps you should tell us how perfect you are. By the way, doctors are paid to give their professional advice whether a patient takes it is entirely up to him or her and doesn’t mean the patient doesn’t deserve advice. Beanie, Type I (MDI, Humalog/Ultralente) To reply via email remove the "IE"
Response:
Most MDs actually know what they are doing, though we do hear the occasional horror story here on this NG. On the other hand, the vast majority of diabetics, particularly type-2s, do not comply with basic medical advice. On the whole, the MDs have a better track record than their patients. Endos have told me they wonder why they even bother because they see so few compliant cases and so many ugly outcomes.
This might be the exception to the rule but I’ve had my share of incompetent doctors including one extremely incompetent endo. Not just my opinion either, my current doctor was horrified at the lack of treatment I was getting by my ex-’expert’-endocrinologist. So ask me why I even bothered with her because *I* had such a bad outcome. Doctors are just like any other profession you have good ones and you have bad ones. So are patients. But before you judge non-compliant patients perhaps you should tell us how perfect you are. By the way, doctors are paid to give their professional advice whether a patient takes it is entirely up to him or her and doesn’t mean the patient doesn’t deserve advice. Beanie, Type I (MDI, Humalog/Ultralente) To reply via email remove the "IE"
Response:
I don’t recall that TTD is a common precursor to pancreatic cancer, or that oral meds cause it. Most Type-2s eventually go off orals and on insulin, so I don’t think this would be a tipoff of possible cancer. Both pancreatic cancer and TTD are pretty common. Could be a coincidence. Most MDs actually know what they are doing, though we do hear the occasional horror story here on this NG. On the other hand, the vast majority of diabetics, particularly type-2s, do not comply with basic medical advice. On the whole, the MDs have a better track record than their patients. Endos have told me they wonder why they even bother because they see so few compliant cases and so many ugly outcomes. Sorry to hear about your relative. TM
Response:
A family member just diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two weeks ago. She’s a Type 2 diabetic who always had good control with oral meds until about 3 months ago. Had to go on insulin at that time. Trying to figure out if that’s a common occurrence as you get older(she’s in her 70’s) or should doctors have looked a little deeper for cause and possibly found cancer sooner. If you have