Fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes: a case report

Diabetes is now becoming a major cause of morbidity and mortality in both developing and developed countries. Even though type 1 and type 2 are the commonest, diabetes mellitus due to secondary causes have been identified. Fibrocalculous Pancreatic Diabetes is a unique entity wherein pancreatic calcification and chronic inflammation lead to exocrine and endocrine failure of the pancreas. This form of non-alcoholic pancreatopathy is exclusively seen among the young, with a male preponderance and commonly in tropical countries where malnutrition and poverty go hand in hand. Whereas, interestingly this case has a late presentation in a female, unlike in other reported cases. For the best of our knowledge this is the first such documented case reported in Sri Lanka.

A 57 year old non-alcoholic Sinhalese female from Sri Lanka, presented with a history of chronic pancreatitis of nine years duration, after which she had developed severe Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. Imaging of the abdomen showed typical pancreatic calcifications, and this presentation accords with the criteria for Fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes.

This case report demonstrates a rare form of secondary diabetes in a middle aged female, without a childhood history of abdominal pain suggestive of pancreatitis, indicating late onset disease. Therefore a high index of suspicion is necessary even though the diagnostic criteria indicates the presence of childhood onset of disease.