The role of diabetes mellitus in diseases of the gallbladder and biliary tract.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a disease which is on the rise, not only in the United States, but across the entire world. Of the many types of diabetes, diabetes mellitus is one of the most significant and common ones. There are two major types of diabetes mellitus, known as type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In short, T1DM is non-insulin dependent and T2DM is insulin dependent. INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus has been shown to have potential negative implications on the gallbladder and the biliary tract. This includes gallbladder diseases including the formation of gallstones, gallbladder cancer, and cancer on the biliary tract. METHODS: Through a literature review utilizing PubMed, past studies and reviews were retrieved, to write an up-to-date review on the role of diabetes mellitus in diseases of the gallbladder and biliary tract. RESULTS: Diseases associated with diabetes were discussed in detail, treatment options were discussed, and several implications and associations with diabetes were mentioned. There have been several means of proposing ways to treat these diseases. One of the most widely known risks for diabetes is the aforementioned gallstone development, which often leads to the removal of the gallbladder by a cholecystectomy. DISCUSSION: Overall, there are many problems for the GI system in general with diabetes, including gastroparesis and other diseases that have a wide range of morbidity and mortality rates and treatment options. Through this review, a focus will be taken on the diabetic complications that arise on the gallbladder and associations to it.