Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Patients undergoing extensive pancreatic resection for benign pancreatic disease are subject to significant metabolic complications and may develop insulin-dependent diabetes that is difficult to balance due to the lack of a counter-regulatory mechanism. Diabetes appears classically after removal of more than 80% of the pancreas, especially with a risk of severe and prolonged hypoglycaemia. We illustrate the problem with the following clinical case.

Observation: Mr. D T, 51 years old, at ATCD of benign pancreatic neoplasia, operated on at home pancreatectomy, the patient developed secondary diabetes with signs of external pancreatic insufficiency with chronic diarrhea and a malabsorption syndrome. Hospitalized at our level for chronic glycemic imbalance marked by an impairment of quality of life following disabling repeated hypoglycaemia. Insulin requirements are low and typically reduced during the night.

Conclusion: Management of insulin-dependent diabetes following pancreatectomy is difficult to balance due to the lack of a counter-regulatory mechanism. Therapeutic patient education is an important weapon in achieving these goals of improving quality of life.