Increased Glycemic Variability in Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis and Diabetes Compared to Type 2 Diabetes

Glycemic variability in diabetes secondary to pancreatic diseases (pancreatic diabetes) remains unclear. We compared glycemic control and variability in patients with pancreatic diabetes and a matched group of individuals with type 2 diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).

We included 30 patients with chronic pancreatitis and insulin-treated secondary diabetes and 30 individuals with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes (matched on HbA1c, age, and sex). Participants wore a blinded CGM for 20±2 days. Glycemic variability was assessed using coefficient of variation (CV), standard deviation (SD), mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), and continuous overall net glycemic action (CONGA) at 1 and 2-hour intervals. Glycemic control was evaluated based on time spent in predefined glucose ranges: >250 mg/dL, 181 to 250 mg/dL, 70 to 180 mg/dL (target range), 54 to 69 mg/dL, and <54 mg/dL. CGM parameters were compared between groups.

All CGM-derived measures of glycemic variability (CV, SD, MAGE, CONGA1, and CONGA2) were significantly higher in patients with chronic pancreatitis and diabetes compared to individuals with type 2 diabetes (P < 0.01). Patients with chronic pancreatitis spent more time with glucose >250 mg/dL (8.8% vs 3.1%, P = 0.008), less time in the target range (70-180 mg/dL; 56.7% vs 68.5%, P = 0.044), and more time at 54-69 mg/dL (0.2% vs 0.0%, P = 0.041). Their glycemia risk index for hyperglycemia was also higher (25.5 vs 16.5, P = 0.033).

Patients with pancreatic diabetes have higher glycemic variability than individuals with type 2 diabetes despite comparable levels of HbA1c.