Pancreatitis And Diabetes
Background Causes Risk Factors Signs Diagnosis Treatment - Dogs - Cats Long-term management Complications Considerations for diabetics Personal experiences Note Resources References BackgroundThe pancreas is a small organ located in the abdomen. In addition to being part of the endocrine system and producing the hormones insulin and glucagon, it produces digestive enzymes that are necessary for the proper digestion of food. This aspect of the pancreatic function is called the exocrine pancreas. The digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas are normally inactive until they are secreted into the small intestine. Once in the intestine, the enzymes become active and aid in the digestion of food. Pancreatitis means the pancreas is inflamed. The inflammation can become severe, and the digestive enzymes that are normally inactive can become active and the enzymes cause damage to the pancreas. This causes a cycle of increasing inflammation. Pancreatitis can be acute - meaning the inflammation occurs suddenly, or chronic - where the inflammation is slow and gradually occurs over a long period of time. Acute pancreatitis causes little or no permanent damage to the pancreas. Acute pancreatitis is rare in cats. Chronic pancreatitis can result in scar tissue forming in the pancreas, which in turn decreases the ability of the pancreas to function properly. There are many differences in the causes and treatment of pancreatitis in dogs and cats Causes The exact cause of pancreatitis is unknown but may be due to: high fat, low protein diet trauma (car accidents, a fall from tall building) other diseases (Cushing's syndrome, diabetes) tumors some drugs and toxins (some diuretics, antibiotics, insecticides) in cats - toxoplasmosis, FIP, feline herpesvirus, or inflammation of the bile duc Continue reading >>
Causes Of Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes is a number of diseases that involve problems with the hormone insulin. While not everyone with type 2 diabetes is overweight, obesity and lack of physical activity are two of the most common causes of this form of diabetes. It is also responsible for about 90% to 95% of diabetes cases in the United States, according to the CDC. This article will give you a better understanding of the causes of type 2 diabetes, what happens in the body when type 2 diabetes occurs, and specific health problems that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Each section links to more in-depth information on that topic. In a healthy person, the pancreas (an organ behind the stomach) releases insulin to help the body store and use the sugar from the food you eat. Diabetes happens when one or more of the following occurs: When the pancreas does not produce any insulin. When the pancreas produces very little insulin. When the body does not respond appropriately to insulin, a condition called "insulin resistance." Unlike people with type 1 diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes produce insulin; however, the insulin their pancreas secretes is either not enough or the body is unable to recognize the insulin and use it properly (insulin resistance). When there isn't enough insulin or the insulin is not used as it should be, glucose (sugar) can't get into the body's cells and builds up in the bloodstream instead. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it causes damage in multiple areas of the body. Also, since cells aren't getting the glucose they need, they can't function properly. To understand why insulin is important, it helps to know more about how the body uses food for energy. Your body is made up of millions of cells. To make energy, these cells need food in a Continue reading >>
The Connection Between Diabetes And Your Pancreas
A direct connection exists between the pancreas and diabetes. The pancreas is an organ deep in your abdomen behind your stomach. It’s an important part of your digestive system. The pancreas produces enzymes and hormones that help you digest food. One of those hormones, insulin, is necessary to regulate glucose. Glucose refers to sugars in your body. Every cell in your body needs glucose for energy. Think of insulin as a lock to the cell. Insulin must open the cell to allow it to use glucose for energy. If your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t make good use of it, glucose builds up in your bloodstream, leaving your cells starved for energy. When glucose builds up in your bloodstream, this is known as hyperglycemia. The symptoms of hyperglycemia include thirst, nausea, and shortness of breath. Low glucose, known as hypoglycemia, also causes many symptoms, including shakiness, dizziness, and loss of consciousness. Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia can quickly become life-threatening. Each type of diabetes involves the pancreas not functioning properly. The way in which the pancreas doesn’t function properly differs depending on the type. No matter what type of diabetes you have, it requires ongoing monitoring of blood glucose levels so you can take the appropriate action. Type 1 diabetes In type 1 diabetes the immune system erroneously attacks the beta cells that produce insulin in your pancreas. It causes permanent damage, leaving your pancreas unable to produce insulin. Exactly what triggers the immune system to do that isn’t clear. Genetic and environmental factors may play a role. You’re more likely to develop type 1 diabetes if you have a family history of the disease. About 5 percent of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. People who ha Continue reading >>
After Diabetes Diagnosis
Diabetes is a disease where blood sugar levels are too high because the body can no longer make or use insulin properly. The condition could lead to serious complications and even death. An estimated 29.1 million Americans have diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes in the U.S. There are several types of diabetes, including Type 1, Type 2 and gestational — a type that occurs in pregnant women. Type 2 is the most common, and about 95 percent of all people with diabetes in the U.S. have this type. An additional 86 million adults in the United States have prediabetes, a condition where your blood sugar is high but not elevated enough for a diabetes diagnosis. Cases of diabetes increase each year, and every 19 seconds doctors diagnose someone in the U.S. with the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 3 adults may be diagnosed with diabetes by 2050. It’s important to keep blood sugar levels controlled because it can cause serious health problems — including kidney disease, heart problems, skin problems and limb amputations. Even if Type 2 diabetes has no cure, it can be prevented and managed. People with the disease can control blood sugar with lifestyle changes and medication. What is Type 2 Diabetes? Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which your body loses its ability to produce and use insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas that the body uses to convert glucose into energy. Without the right amount of insulin, excess sugar builds up in the body and causes a number of health problems. Where Type 1 typically occurs in younger people and is an immune disorder, Type 2 most often occurs later in life. In fact, the medical community used to call Type 2 diabetes “adult-onset” diabetes. M Continue reading >>
The Connection Between Epi And Diabetes
More than 25 million Americans have diabetes, and if you’re one of the millions living with the condition, you understand the crucial role your pancreas plays in producing insulin and preventing diabetes complications. But you might not know about exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, a condition that by some estimates could affect as many as half of people with insulin-dependent diabetes, as well as many of those with non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The pancreas has two basic functions. The first is to make insulin and other hormones as part of what's called its endocrine function. The cells that make insulin (islet cells) exist in the pancreas alongside those that carry out the second function of the pancreas, called the exocrine function, which is the production of enzymes that help with digestion. When you have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, either your pancreas isn’t able to make needed digestive enzymes or important ducts in it are blocked, meaning that the enzymes can’t get to your digestive tract to break down food. A blockage in your pancreas can cause partial digestion of the pancreatic tissue itself, which in turn can damage the cells that produce insulin. There’s more to the link between diabetes and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency than proximity, but researchers aren’t exactly sure what it is — although it sounds a lot like the riddle of the chicken and the egg. “Diabetes can be caused by exocrine disease, and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency can be caused by diabetes," explains Philip D. Hardt, a physician and researcher with the University Hospital of Giessen and Marburg in Giessen, Germany, and author of a review on this topic published in Experimental Diabetes Research. "Both are possible.” Diabetes and Pancreatic Insufficiency: Poss Continue reading >>
Pancreatitis
What is the pancreas? The pancreas is a large gland in the abdomen located behind the stomach and next to the upper part of the small intestine (the duodenum). The pancreas has two main jobs: It discharges powerful digestive enzymes into the small intestine to aid the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and fat. It releases the hormones insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. These hormones are involved in blood glucose (sugar) metabolism, regulating how the body stores and uses food for energy. What is pancreatitis? Pancreatitis is a rare disease in which the pancreas becomes inflamed. Pancreatic damage occurs when the digestive enzymes are activated and begin attacking the pancreas. In very severe cases, pancreatitis can result in bleeding into the gland, serious tissue damage, infection, and cyst formation. Severe pancreatitis can also cause damage if enzymes and toxins are released into the bloodstream, which can harm other vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys. Pancreatitis develops gradually and tends to become progressively worse. There are two forms of pancreatitis: acute and chronic. What causes pancreatitis? Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation of the pancreas that occurs over a short period of time. In more than 80% of the cases, acute pancreatitis is caused by bile duct stones or heavy alcohol use. Other causes include: Medications High triglyceride levels Infections Trauma Metabolic disorders Surgery In about 10-15% of the cases, the cause of acute pancreatitis is unknown. The severity of acute pancreatitis may range from mild abdominal (belly) discomfort to a severe, life-threatening illness. However, the majority of patients with acute pancreatitis (greater than 80%) recover completely after receiving the appropriate treatment. Ch Continue reading >>
Some Diabetes Drugs Linked To Pancreatitis Risk
Diabetes patients who take the newest class of diabetes drugs have double the risk of being hospitalized with acute pancreatitis, researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, reported in JAMA Internal Medicine. The authors explained that the new forms of sugar-control medications prescribed to diabetes patients are called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). Examples of such drugs include sitagliptin (Januvia) and exenatide (Byetta). These medications were found to contribute to the formation of lesions in the pancreas and an increase in the number of ducts within it, adding to the frequency and severity of inflammation. When LGP-1 therapies were in the animal studies phase, the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) received reports of pancreatitis as a side effect, therefore, doctors and regulators were aware of the risk. In 2007, the FDA announced that acute pancreatitis might be linked to diabetes type 2 drug Byetta. However, this is the first study to accurately measure how close the link to pancreatitis is for humans taking the newest class of diabetes medications. Their study factored in other risk factors which can increase the risk of pancreatitis, such as obesity, heavy alcohol consumption and gallstones. Study leader Sonal Singh, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said: "These agents are used by millions of Americans with diabetes. These new diabetes drugs are very effective in lowering blood glucose. However, important safety findings may not have been fully explored and some side effects such as acute pancreatitis don't appear until widespread use after approval." The researchers added that diabetes patients should be alert to pancreatitis Continue reading >>
Pancreatitis And Diabetes
Tweet Pancreatitis is a condition in which the pancreas becomes inflamed, which can be very painful in the short term and could lead to complications including secondary diabetes. Alcohol and gall stones are the main risk factors for pancreatitis but some medications, including certain diabetes medications, may increase the risk of pancreatitis. Types of pancreatitis Acute pancreatitis is when the pancreas becomes inflamed for up to a few days. Chronic pancreatitis is if inflammation of the pancreas persists over a long period of time, say years. Symptoms The main symptom of acute pancreatitis is a strong pain in the upper abdomen, where the pancreas is located. Other symptoms that may be present include: nausea vomiting or diarrhoea fever If you have chronic pancreatitis you may experience regular pain within the upper part of the abdomen and possibly some of the following symptoms, caused by difficulty in digesting food properly: Stomach cramps Bloating and wind Foul smelling stools Unexplained weight loss Jaundice Seek medical help if you experience sudden severe pain in your abdomen. Causes The NHS notes that pancreatitis may be caused by a digestive enzyme becoming prematurely activated within the pancreas, causing the pancreas to become inflamed. Having two or more alcoholic drinks a day Gallstones An automimmune response Hypertriglyceridemia – high levels of triglyceride blood fats in the blood Genetic mutation of MCP-1 gene The following medications may also raise the risk of pancreatitis: Oestrogens Corticosteroids Thiazide diuretics Certain diabetes medications – see below for more info Treatment Treatment for pancreatitis will need to be carried out in hospital. You may need to be given oxygen and intravenous fluids, and may be given strong painkillers, s Continue reading >>
Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms: Diabetes Could Be A Warning Sign For Deadly Disease
Pancreatic cancer is hard to diagnose in its early stages as the tumour doesn't usually cause any symptoms. The disease affects around 8,800 people every year in the UK. Diabetic have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer - however now experts have suggested cancer can cause some cases of diabetes. Experts have revealed the onset of diabetes, or existing diabetes getting much worse could be a sign of hidden pancreatic cancer. Medical records and the type of diabetic medicines they are prescribed could be a tool in identifying those at risk, scientists from the International Prevention Research Institute in Lyon said. An analysis of nearly a million patients with type 2 diabetes in Italy and Belgium with pancreatic cancer found half were diagnosed within one year of being found to have type 2 diabetes and being given their first prescription to control it. Experts said they had a 3.5 times greater risk of being diagnosed with the disease in the first three months after their first prescription for incretins, hormones which stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin to lower blood sugar levels. Injecting insulin was associated with a seven-fold increased risk of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Professor Philippe Autier said: "Although it has been known for some time that there is an association between type 2 diabetes and pancreatic cancer, the relationship between the two conditions is complex. "Incretin therapies reduce diabetic hyperglycemia through stimulating the release of insulin by the pancreas. "These drugs are typically prescribed when the oral anti-diabetic drugs can no longer control blood glucose levels. "Because of their stimulating effects on the pancreas, it has long been thought that the incretin therapies could promote the occurrence of panc Continue reading >>
Other Diseases That Are More Common In People With Type 1 Diabetes
Other Diseases That Are More Common in People With Type 1 Diabetes KidsHealth / For Teens / Other Diseases That Are More Common in People With Type 1 Diabetes People with type 1 diabetes have a greater risk for other health problems. Like type 1 diabetes, these are often autoimmune disorders. Most teens with type 1 diabetes never need treatment for any other autoimmune disorder. But some do. So it can help to find out more about the diseases that can happen to people with type 1 diabetes. In autoimmune disorders, a person's immune system attacks the body's healthy tissues as though they were foreign invaders. If the attack is severe enough, it can affect how well that body part works. For example, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that affects the pancreas. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas can't make insulin because the immune system attacks the pancreas and destroys the cells that make insulin. People with type 1 diabetes are also more likely to have other autoimmune problems. Doctors aren't exactly sure why autoimmune diseases happen, but a person's genes probably play a role. While other autoimmune disorders are linked to diabetes, they are not actually caused by the diabetes — they're just more likely to happen. Autoimmune diseases that people with type 1 diabetes are more likely to get include: Sometimes people develop one or more of these problems before they develop type 1 diabetes. And sometimes doctors discover these other autoimmune diseases around the same time they find out that a person has type 1 diabetes. In other people, the disorder may not develop until months or years after they've been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The thyroid is a gland that makes hormones that help control metabolism and growth. These hormones play a role in bone deve Continue reading >>
Enlarged Pancreas: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments
Enlarged Pancreas: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments An enlarged pancreas can occur for many reasons. The pancreas is a gland that sits behind your stomach in the upper abdomen and helps with digestion. It produces enzymes that are secreted into the small intestine, digesting protein, fat, and carbohydrates. The pancreas also produces insulin to help regulate blood sugar (glucose), the body's main source of energy. An enlarged pancreas may mean nothing. You may simply have a pancreas that is larger than normal. Or, it can be because of an anatomic abnormality. But other causes of an enlarged pancreas may include the following: Pancreatitis occurs when digestive enzymes become active inside the pancreas, attacking and damaging its tissues. This can cause an enlarged pancreas. Acute pancreatitis is inflammation that occurs suddenly in the pancreas. It can be very serious, even life-threatening. But it usually goes away within a few days of treatment. Gallstones and alcohol are common causes of acute pancreatitis. Other causes include high levels of fats in the blood , certain drugs, certain medical procedures, and some infections. Chronic pancreatitis is inflammation that gets worse over time and leads to permanent damage in the pancreas. Heavy alcohol use is the most common cause. Other causes include heredity, cystic fibrosis , high levels of calcium or fats in the blood , certain medications , and some autoimmune conditions. Pancreatic pseudocyst is an accumulation of fluid and tissue debris in the pancreas, which can occur after a case of pancreatitis. Cystadenoma is a tumor that is usually benign. Abscess is a pus-filled cavity, usually caused by a bacterial infection . A pancreatic pseudocyst that becomes infected can become an abscess. Pancreatic cancer is an abnor Continue reading >>
What Is Chronic Pancreatitis-associated Diabetes?
Note: This article is part of our library of resources for Forms of Diabetes. Chronic pancreatitis-associated diabetes is caused by chronic pancreatitis, a prolonged inflammation of the pancreas, which causes extensive damage to exocrine tissue. When acute hyperglycemia develops, the islet cells of the organ become damaged and can no longer produce insulin, causing the person to become insulin dependent for life. According to the NHS, this occurs in around 50% of people with chronic pancreatitis (Diabetes.co.uk). In rare cases, if the pancreas is so severely damaged, parts of organ may need to be removed. Chronic pancreatitis may occur after an episode of acute pancreatitis. What are symptoms chronic pancreatitis? Acute upper abdominal pain radiating to the back Swollen and tender abdomen Vomiting Nausea Fever Increased heart rate Sometimes weight loss What causes chronic pancreatitis? Anyone can get chronic pancreatitis, but it is more prevalent in people with these risk factors (WebMD): Heavy alcohol drinking for a long time Gallstones Cystic fibrosis (hereditary) Medications Infections Surgery Trauma Metabolic disorders Cause is unknown (about 20-30% of cases) Read After They Took My Pancreas by Wanda Morrow Clevenger. Continue reading >>
Chronic Pancreatitis And Diabetes.
Abstract Chronic pancreatitis is defined by a persistent destruction of the pancreatic parenchyma replaced by fibrosis. The lesions generally start in the exocrine gland, islets being attacked later in the fibrosis. The two most frequent forms are: 1. Chronic calcifying pancreatitis which is a pancreatic lithiasis responsible for more than 95% of chronic pancreatitis. In its most frequent form, calculi are built up of more than 98% calcium salts together with fibres of a degraded residue of lithostathine, a secretory protein. This disease is related (i) in most countries to alcohol, protein, fat and tobacco and (ii) in certain tropical countries to malnutrition (low-fat, low-protein diet) for some generations. A causative role for cassava and kwashiorkor is improbable. The mechanism of calcium precipitation is partly explained by the calcium-saturation of pancreatic juice and the decreased biosynthesis of lithostathine S, the secretory protein preventing crystallization. As a rule, diabetes (and steatorrhoea) appear after a clinical evolution characterized by recurrent attacks of upper abdominal pain, generally lasting some days with transiently increased concentrations of pancreatic enzymes in serum. When diabetes appears, pain frequently disappears. Complications are mostly observed in the first 10 years of clinical evolution. 2. Obstructive pancreatitis is due to an obstacle (tumours, scars) in the pancreatic duct. It is rarely a cause of diabetes. Diabetes due to chronic pancreatitis is characterized by the low incidence of ketosis and the high incidence of insulin-induced hypoglycaemia. Patients are generally thin. Serum insulin levels, either basal or stimulated, are decreased. Glucagon is less affected. Angiopathies and retinopathies are less frequent than in non Continue reading >>
The Connection Between Pancreatitis And Diabetes
Share: As a diabetes educator and author, I have been asked many times about the connection between pancreatitis and diabetes. I thought I would share the answer with all of my readers. First we need to define pancreatitis. I will also tell you about the most common forms and tell you about the connection with diabetes. The Definition of Pancreatitis When a word ends with “itis”, it is a suffix used to let us know that there is inflammation. (1) So…. pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. There are two common kinds of pancreatitis, acute and chronic. Acute pancreatitis- The definition of “acute” is a condition that comes on suddenly and is severe. (2) Acute pancreatitis is therefore an inflammation and swelling in the pancreas that comes on suddenly! (3) The Pancreas The pancreas is a unique organ that has many functions. People with diabetes usually are taught that the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas makes the hormone insulin. They are also taught that the pancreas makes other hormones like glucagon. The job that the pancreas has in making hormones and controlling blood glucose is referred to as pancreatic endocrine functions. Hormones are released by the pancreas and go directly into the blood stream. They travel through the body to get to the sites needed. The pancreas which is located behind the stomach and very near to the small intestine also has what we call exocrine functions. Enzymes are produced as needed to help with the digestion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. These enzymes are not released into the blood but they travel through a series of ducts that end in the small intestines where they usually become active. (3, 4) In acute pancreatitis, there is a problem when these enzymes are prematurely activated insid Continue reading >>
Can Pancreatitis Cause Diabetes?
Pancreatitis is an infection or inflammation of the pancreas, an endocrine organ. It sits just behind the stomach in the abdomen and has a duct that connects to the common bile duct which empties into the duodenum. The pancreas is both an endocrine and an exocrine gland. The exocrine gland function produces enzymes that are important for digestion of proteins. These enzymes are released into the pancreatic duct and exit into the duodenum. The endocrine gland function produces the hormones, insulin and glucagon, which are important to help the body regulate blood sugars. These hormones are released directly into the blood stream to produce their actions on the body’s cells. Pancreatitis can develop in several ways. Occasionally, gallbladder stones can get out into the common bile duct and will travel down to the junction of the common bile duct and pancreatic duct. If the stone becomes trapped in the duct it can cause the pancreatic enzymes released into the duct to back up and cause damage to the pancreas. There are also viruses that can infect the pancreas and cause inflammation and damage to the pancreas. Heavy alcohol consumption and pancreatic cancer can also cause pancreatitis. Treatment of pancreatitis is generally bowel rest and intravenous feeding to reduce the production of pancreatic enzymes which allows the pancreas to heal. More severe infections or frequent infections can lead to pseudo cysts, pockets of fluid in the pancreas that can affect the function of the pancreas and may require surgical excision. If the pancreas were to become damaged severely enough that it could no longer produce insulin, then Diabetes would result. This is the mechanism that leads to the development of adult onset type I diabetes. Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancrea Continue reading >>
