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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Diagnosed With Chronic Pancreatis. Have Test Result. Can Any Online Doctor Help?

My husband was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis 17 years ago. The test results showed collapsed tubing, damage and scar tissue in his pancreas . He was discharged out of the Army because they said he would eventually become an insulin dependent diabetic. They put him on enzymes that controlled the attacks but he still had problems from time to time but he still became a diabetic. It took a few years for this to happen. He was told that as the symptoms progressed and he became a diabetes they would reevaluate him to help with medication and benefits. Now the VA says the two are not related because he didn t become a diabetic within one year. They are asking us to provide proof from a doctor that says It could more than likely be because of the chronic pancreatitis or that it s more likely than not because of the chronic pancreatitis. So, Does a person have to become a diabetic within a year of chronic pancreatitis diagnosis for it to be caused by the chronic pancreatitis?
Mon, 4 Nov 2013
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
hello..

Pancrease is both an exocrine gland(producing enzymes that help in digestion) and an endocine gland(producing insuline and glucagon wch regulate glucose levels in blood).
Diabetes occurs in 50-75% of chronic pancreatitis patients and up to 90% of calcific chronic pancreatitis patients but is likely underestimated.
it is very difficult to gv a time frame as to when wil a patient become a diabetic after diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis as it depend on the cause of the disease,extent of the disease and the rate of progression of the disease.

If i was the treating doctor 17 years ago i would hv searched for the cause of chronic pancreatitis and tried to halt the disease progression.
anyways now the best thing to do is evaluate your husband for diabetes and insulin dose
Also he should b put on pancreatic enzymes to cover for the exocrine functions of pancrease

i hope i was of some help..
if you hv any further query i wil b more than happy to reply...
wish best of health for you and your husband.
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Diagnosed With Chronic Pancreatis. Have Test Result. Can Any Online Doctor Help?

hello.. Pancrease is both an exocrine gland(producing enzymes that help in digestion) and an endocine gland(producing insuline and glucagon wch regulate glucose levels in blood). Diabetes occurs in 50-75% of chronic pancreatitis patients and up to 90% of calcific chronic pancreatitis patients but is likely underestimated. it is very difficult to gv a time frame as to when wil a patient become a diabetic after diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis as it depend on the cause of the disease,extent of the disease and the rate of progression of the disease. If i was the treating doctor 17 years ago i would hv searched for the cause of chronic pancreatitis and tried to halt the disease progression. anyways now the best thing to do is evaluate your husband for diabetes and insulin dose Also he should b put on pancreatic enzymes to cover for the exocrine functions of pancrease i hope i was of some help.. if you hv any further query i wil b more than happy to reply... wish best of health for you and your husband.