Abstract:
Background: Diabetes is a heterogeneous disease characterised by persistent hyperglycaemia that is commonly categorised into type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Although, type 2 diabetes is the more prevalent form of diabetes, diabetes of the exocrine pancreas (DEP) contributes up to 10% to all types of diabetes. A clinically distinct entity, DEP has been reported since early 18th century. However, research to date has largely been limited to other subtypes of DEP – namely, new-onset diabetes after chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, and pancreatic cancer-related diabetes. Studies investigating the burden of and mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of post-pancreatitis prediabetes and diabetes mellitus (PPDM) (after acute pancreatitis (AP)) are scarce. Studies undertaken as part of this thesis aimed to estimate the burden of PPDM and investigate the mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis by studying numerous fasting and postprandial pancreatic and gut hormones, proinflammatory cytokines, and neuropeptides.