Characteristics and Clinical Course of Diabetes of the Exocrine Pancreas: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

Epidemiology of post-pancreatitis diabetes mellitus: insights from the COSMOS program

INTRODUCTION

Post-pancreatitis diabetes mellitus (PPDM) has long been recognized as one of the most challenging sub-types of diabetes to manage. Part of the problem is that the earlier literature on epidemiology of PPDM was confusing because of the presence of selection bias.

AREAS COVERED

A concerted series of population-based nationwide studies on PPDM from New Zealand has recently been published as part of the COSMOS (Clinical and epidemiOlogical inveStigations in Metabolism, nutritiOn, and pancreatic diseaseS) program and is the main focus of the present article.

EXPERT OPINION

The foundational knowledge on epidemiology of PPDM generated by the COSMOS program is generalizable to the population at large. It brings the field closer to a comprehensive narrative of risk factors, burden, mortality, and morbidity outcomes of PPDM. In producing new knowledge on epidemiology of PPDM, it will be important to adhere to the guidelines on identification of PPDM in population-based datasets advanced in the present article.

Imaging abnormalities of the pancreas in diabetes: implications for diagnosis and treatment

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Radiographic imaging of the pancreas has drawn recent interest as pancreas volume may serve as a biomarker in identifying the likelihood of diabetes development, subtyping diabetes, and identifying prognostic indicators of poor ultimate outcomes. In this review, the role of pancreas imaging is discussed in various forms of diabetes including type 1 diabetes (T1D), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and diabetes of the exocrine pancreas, particularly diabetes following acute or chronic pancreatitis.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent literature of quantitative pancreatic imaging correlating with various forms of diabetes was reviewed. Imaging-derived pancreas volumes are lower in individuals with diabetes, in particular those with T1D. Additionally, morphologic changes, enhancement characteristics, fat content, and MRI signal changes have been observed in different diabetes subtypes. These characteristics, as well as potential confounding variables, are reviewed. Additionally, future areas of research in MRI, CT radiomics, and pancreatitis-related imaging predictors of diabetes are discussed.

SUMMARY

Increased understanding of pancreas imaging features which predict diabetes and gauge prognosis has the potential to identify at-risk individuals and will become increasingly important in diabetes care. This article reviews the current knowledge of common pancreas imaging features as well as future directions of ongoing research in diabetes imaging.

Risk factors for diabetes mellitus after acute pancreatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

Within 5 years of having acute pancreatitis (AP), approximately 20% of patients develop diabetes mellitus (DM), which later increases to approximately 40%. Some studies suggest that the prevalence of prediabetes (PD) and/or DM can grow as high as 59% over time. However, information on risk factors is limited. We aimed to identify risk factors for developing PD or DM following AP.

Methods

We systematically searched three databases up to 4 September 2023 extracting direct, within-study comparisons of risk factors on the rate of new-onset PD and DM in AP patients. When PD and DM event rates could not be separated, we reported results for this composite outcome as PD/DM. Meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model to calculate pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

Of the 61 studies identified, 50 were included in the meta-analysis, covering 76,797 participants. The studies reported on 79 risk factors, and meta-analysis was feasible for 34 risk factor and outcome pairs. The odds of developing PD/DM was significantly higher after severe and moderately severe AP (OR: 4.32; CI: 1.76-10.60) than mild AP. Hypertriglyceridemic AP etiology (OR: 3.27; CI: 0.17-63.91) and pancreatic necrosis (OR: 5.53; CI: 1.59-19.21) were associated with a higher risk of developing PD/DM. Alcoholic AP etiology (OR: 1.82; CI: 1.09-3.04), organ failure (OR: 3.19; CI: 0.55-18.64), recurrent AP (OR: 1.89; CI: 0.95-3.77), obesity (OR: 1.85; CI: 1.43-2.38), chronic kidney disease (OR: 2.10; CI: 1.85-2.38), liver cirrhosis (OR: 2.48; CI: 0.18-34.25), and dyslipidemia (OR: 1.82; CI: 0.68-4.84) were associated with a higher risk of developing DM.

Discussion

Severe and moderately severe AP, alcoholic and hypertriglyceridemic etiologies, pancreatic necrosis, organ failure, recurrent acute pancreatitis and comorbidities of obesity, chronic kidney disease liver disease, and dyslipidemia are associated with a higher risk of developing PD or DM.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42021281983.

Metabolic Sequelae: The Pancreatitis Zeitgeist of the 21st Century

Holistic management of pancreatitis means that gastroenterologists in the 21st Century should think beyond improving in-hospital outcomes of pancreatitis alone. In particular, there is considerable room for optimizing the management of new-onset diabetes, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and other metabolic sequelae of pancreatitis. The present article provides state-of-the-art information on classification, terminology, and burden of the common sequelae of pancreatitis. A high-risk group of patients with pancreatitis is identified, which is positioned to benefit the most from the metabolic sequelae surveillance program introduced in this article. The program involves continuous follow-up after pancreatitis diagnosis, with the focus on early identification of new-onset diabetes after pancreatitis and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. The metabolic sequelae surveillance program is scalable and has the potential to reduce the burden of pancreatitis through tertiary prevention in the decades to come.

Diabetes of the Exocrine Pancreas: Implications for Pharmacological Management

Post-pancreatitis diabetes mellitus, pancreatic cancer-related diabetes, and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes are often underappreciated. As a result, a substantial proportion of people with these sub-types of diabetes receive antidiabetic medications that may be suboptimal, if not harmful, in the context of their underlying disease of the exocrine pancreas. The present article delineates both classical (biguanides, insulin, sulfonylureas, α-glucosidase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, and meglitinides) and newer (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, amylin analogs, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors, D2 receptor agonists, bile acid sequestrants, and dual glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor co-agonists) therapies and provides recommendations for managing people with diabetes of the exocrine pancreas based on the most up-to-date clinical evidence. Also, several emerging directions (lipid-enriched pathways, Y4 receptor agonism, glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucagon receptor co-agonism) are presented with a view to informing the process of new drug discovery and development.