Unravelling the heterogeneity of diabetes in chronic pancreatitis: Alpha and beta cell dysfunction and association with glycaemic control

Abstract

Aims: Diabetes in patients with chronic pancreatitis is a heterogeneous condition with some patients presenting with pre-existing diabetes and others developing diabetes after pancreatitis onset. We aimed to characterise beta and alpha cell function in these patients and examine differences between those with and without pre-existing diabetes. Methods: We included 26 patients with chronic pancreatitis and insulin-treated diabetes, divided into two subgroups: 13 with pre-pancreatitis diabetes (having type 2 diabetes before their chronic pancreatitis diagnosis) and 13 with post-pancreatitis diabetes. Patients underwent comprehensive clinical characterisation, including an arginine stimulation test to measure fasting and stimulated levels of C-peptide and glucagon. Additionally, they were monitored with continuous glucose monitoring over 20 days. Results: Patients with chronic pancreatitis and diabetes exhibited reduced fasting and stimulated C-peptide and glucagon responses to arginine, though responses varied considerably among individuals. Post-pancreatitis diabetes patients had lower glucagon responses than those with pre-pancreatitis diabetes (mean difference −19.3 pmol/L, 95% confidence interval (CI) −35.6 to −3.0). However, C-peptide levels were similar between the groups. Pre-pancreatitis diabetes patients spent more time in level 2 hyperglycaemia compared to post-pancreatitis patients (12.9% vs. 6.7%, p = 0.02). In contrast, post-pancreatitis diabetes patients had more time in both level 1 and level 2 hypoglycaemia (p = 0.03 and p = 0.05, respectively). A low glucagon response was correlated with time spent in hypoglycaemia (Rho = −0.54, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Diabetes in chronic pancreatitis is a heterogeneous entity. The presence of type 2 diabetes prior to chronic pancreatitis is associated with a reduced risk of alpha cell dysfunction and hypoglycaemia.