Introduction

Diabetes can be a direct consequence of pancreatic disorders (also known as diabetes of the exocrine pancreas). Inflammation, neoplasia or surgical resection of the pancreas causes disruption of its usual architecture and normal physiology, resulting in exocrine and endocrine dysfunction. Most commonly, this is due to chronic pancreatitis, but it can also be caused by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, haemochromatosis, cystic fibrosis, and pancreatic surgery.

The prevalence of diabetes secondary to pancreatic disorders is unclear because patients are often misdiagnosed as having type 2 diabetes; however, it may be the cause of around 5% of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can coexist with diabetes secondary to a pancreatic disorder.