Secondary diabetic retinopathy in chronic pancreatitis.

We found abnormal glucose tolerance curves in 45 of 47 patients with chronic pancreatitis and observed secondary diabetic retinopathy in eight of 45 cases showing slight changes in the fundus. Abnormal glucose tolerance curves were somewhat related to the exocrine dysfunction of the pancreas. Slightly abnormal glucose tolerance curves were observed frequently in patients with chronic pancreatitis, and both insulin and glucagon responses were decreased. We could not explain the cause of the low frequency of secondary diabetic retinopathy in pancreatic diabetes from the results of insulin and glucagon response tests.