Research needs to be done to see if the AP is caused by the use of these medications. The FDA has required a warning for people using Incretin based medications. There is a possibility of developing AP. (8) It is suggested to avoid these medications with an AP history. Read more about the debate on the possibility of pancreatitis and incretin based therapies. Symptoms of Acute Pancreatitis If you are experiencing AP, you may have the following symptoms: Pain emanating from your left or middle upper abdomen. This pain may intensify shortly after eating or drinking. This is true especially with foods high in fat. The pain may be intense and last a few days. It may be stronger when laying down on your back. Feverish Nausea and Vomiting Gastrointestinal symptoms such as bowel movements that are grayish (clay colored), indigestion, gas, hiccups and swelling (3) Report immediately to your doctor if you think you may be experiencing AP Your doctor will most likely need to draw blood to look at various parameters such as enzyme levels to help with a diagnoses and you may need an abdominal CT, MRI or ultrasound.
Chronic pancreatitis is an illness in which symptoms come and go over many years. This type can damage cells in the pancreas. This can cause scar tissue, loss of function, and digestion problems. If it happens over and over again, it can cause diabetes. Continued Symptoms of pancreatitis include: Pain in the upper belly Pain in the belly that spreads to your back Fever Fast pulse Upset stomach (nausea) Throwing up (vomiting) Belly tenderness Doctors can treat pancreatitis. A serious case of it may force you to stay in the hospital. If you have type 2 diabetes, your body is more likely to be unable to process insulin, so you'll need even more insulin treatment. You can lower your risk by losing weight or maintaining a healthy lifestyle, not smoking, and staying away from alcohol. Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes can have a link to it as either something that raises your risk of having it or as a symptom. If you have type 2 diabetes, you're up to twice as likely to have pancreatic cancer as someone who doesn't have the condition.
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.
Medications [ edit] Medications such as insulin may be given in order to lower blood sugars. For not so high blood sugars, oral treatments in the form of a pill or capsule may be given. See also [ edit] Diabetes mellitus Pancreatitis Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency References [ edit]
It's more likely to happen if you've had diabetes for a while -- 5 years or longer -- than if you don't have it at all. If you have pancreatic cancer, but have had type 2 for less than 5 years, research hasn't figured out if the disease plays a role in the cancer or if the abnormal (precancerous) cells cause the diabetes. It's rare, but pancreatic cancer can also cause diabetes, because it destroys the cells in the organ that make insulin. If you get type 2 diabetes when you're over age 50, it may be a symptom of pancreatic cancer. If you had it before this age, it could be a red flag if your blood sugar levels suddenly change after you've had them under control. Symptoms of this type of cancer don't usually happen until its later stages. Continued If doctors have taken out all or part of your pancreas to treat your pancreatic cancer ( Whipple procedure), you can't make insulin anymore, and you'll end up with diabetes. Several things make it more likely that you'll get pancreatic cancer.
The most common cause is a history of alcoholic binge drinking. (5) It is thought that as much as 70% of people with acute pancreatitis have been habitual consumers of alcohol. They might drink approximately 5-8 drinks per day for up to 5 years. (3) Another condition called biliary colic can also cause AP. (5) Biliary colic results from the blockage of the duct that drains the gallbladder by gallstones. This may cause cramping that resolves if the stone passes into the small intestine. (6) When gallstones are passed from the gallbladder, they travel down into the bile ducts which can block the pancreatic duct. (3) When the pancreatic duct is blocked, the enzymes cannot drain into the intestines. Other less common illnesses that may cause acute pancreatitis are autoimmune problems, high triglyceride levels, cystic fibrosis and use of medications like estrogens, steroids and thiazides. For a more complete list of conditions that are associated with acute pancreatitis, visit the MedlinePlus page on Acute Pancreatitis.