Chronic pancreatitis is inflammation that gets worse over time and leads to permanent damage in the pancreas. Heavy alcohol use is the most common cause. Other causes include heredity, cystic fibrosis, high levels of calcium or fats in the blood, certain medications, and some autoimmune conditions.
The body does not recognize its own insulin-producing beta cells, so the immune system attacks and destroys them as if they were invaders. The body needs insuli... more