In chronic pancreatitis, secondary diabetes results from dysfunction of which pancreatic cells?

• A. Exocrine acinar cells
• B. Islet cells
• C. Duct cells
• D. Endothelial cells

Answer: (B)

In chronic pancreatitis, secondary diabetes arises because the endocrine portion of the pancreas—the islet cells—are damaged. The islets contain beta cells that produce insulin, the hormone that lowers blood glucose. When these beta cells are destroyed or impaired, insulin production drops, leading to hyperglycemia and a form of diabetes caused by pancreatic damage (pancreatogenic diabetes).

Exocrine acinar cells make digestive enzymes, so their dysfunction mainly causes malabsorption and steatorrhea, not diabetes. Duct cells handle bicarbonate and enzyme transport, which also doesn’t directly cause diabetes. Endothelial cells line blood vessels and aren’t responsible for insulin production.