Type 3C Diabetes Mellitus Secondary to Chronic Pancreatitis: Case Report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22516/25007440.1223Keywords:
Diabetes mellitus, pancreas, pancreatic diseases, pancreatitisAbstract
Introduction: Type 3C diabetes mellitus (T3cDM), also known as pancreatogenic diabetes or diabetes of the exocrine pancreas, remains an underdiagnosed clinical entity. Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the exocrine pancreas that accounts for over 300,000 hospitalizations annually, with a global incidence of 34 cases per 100,000 people and geographic variation.
Objective: To present the case of a patient with pancreatogenic diabetes mellitus.
Case Report: A 54-year-old male with a known history of insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes mellitus presented with marked hypoglycemia and a right gluteal abscess. Laboratory findings showed leukocytosis, anemia, and elevated acute-phase reactants. Imaging studies confirmed chronic pancreatitis and decreased C-peptide levels.
Conclusions: This condition is often underdiagnosed and is associated with damage to pancreatic cells, leading to abnormal insulin release and an initial hypoglycemic state, which is frequently the presenting symptom, as seen in this case. A significant number of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes may present with poorly localized abdominal pain or signs of malabsorption. Therefore, it is important to inquire about alcohol and tobacco use, as both are risk factors for pancreatic injury. When clinical suspicion arises, imaging studies and pancreatic function tests are essential to evaluate pancreatic damage and dysfunction.
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