Diabetes of the exocrine pancreas: American Diabetes Association-compliant lexicon

Abstract

Multidisciplinary teams, including gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, surgeons, dietitians, primary care physicians, and other health professionals, are involved in management of individuals with diabetes of the exocrine pancreas (DEP). This necessitates introduction of a uniform terminology to ensure proper communication and reporting. Because DEP is a form of secondary diabetes mellitus, it makes sense to align the evolving DEP lexicon with nomenclature and diagnostic standards advocated by a world leading professional body in the field of diabetes such as the American Diabetes Association. This Editorial offers a historical excursus on the terms used and proposes a new concise nomenclature and diagnostic criteria. This new taxonomy of DEP, compliant with the American Diabetes Association standards of diagnosis and care for patients with diabetes mellitus, will ensure standardisation of reporting in future clinical studies on DEP and enable a dynamic incorporation of glucose dysregulation mechanisms related specifically to diseases of the exocrine pancreas as new evidence emerges.

Keywords: Acute pancreatitis; Chronic pancreatitis; Cystic fibrosis; Diabetes mellitus; Pancreatic cancer.