What is a common complication of chronic pancreatitis?

Chronic pancreatitis often leads to a variety of complications due to the progressive damage and inflammation of the pancreatic tissue. One of the most common complications associated with chronic pancreatitis is chronic diarrhea. This occurs primarily due to the exocrine insufficiency that develops over time as the pancreas becomes less able to produce the enzymes necessary for proper digestion, particularly of fats. As digestive enzyme production decreases, the digestion and absorption of nutrients are adversely affected, leading to malabsorption and ultimately resulting in chronic diarrhea.

The fatty stools, often described as steatorrhea, are a hallmark of this malabsorption process as undigested fats pass through the digestive system. Other symptoms related to malabsorption, such as weight loss and nutrient deficiencies, may also accompany chronic diarrhea in these patients.

In contrast, hypoglycemia is not typically associated with chronic pancreatitis; rather, patients often develop diabetes due to the loss of insulin-producing beta cells. Achalasia pertains to esophageal motility disorders and is not a complication of pancreatitis. Gallstones can occur in some individuals but are more related to conditions affecting the gallbladder rather than chronic pancreatitis per se. Thus, chronic diarrhea stands out as a direct consequence of the pancreatic dysfunction seen in chronic