Secondary diabetes mellitus
Diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas does not produce any or enough insulin. Secondary diabetes is a form of the disease that develops as a result of, or secondary to, another disease or condition.
Secondary diabetes can be caused by a wide range of health problems that damage, injure, interfere with, or destroy the pancreas. For example, secondary diabetes may develop from inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), cystic fibrosis, or conditions related to the overproduction of growth hormone or cortisol. Some medications may also affect how the body uses insulin or prevent the pancreas from producing enough insulin.
If the underlying cause of secondary diabetes can be successfully treated, insulin production may improve or return to normal.
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise