Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer: A Complex Relationship

摘要

Diabetes mellitus is a large group of disorders characterized by elevated blood glucose levels as a result of decreased insulin production, insulin resistance, or both. The American Diabetes Association classifies diabetes as (1) type 1, (2) type 2, (3) diabetes due to other specific etiologies (almost 50 causes are listed), and (4) gestational. Type 1 diabetes is caused by autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is likely a heterogenous disorder, which is not caused by an autoimmune disorder or other listed causes of diabetes; it accounts for 90%-95% of all diabetes in the population. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the general population increases with age.1