The onset of diabetes mellitus is a common complication among patients with pancreatic disease. Although treatment of the primary disease takes priority over secondary complications, diabetes often represents a challenge in daily practice and has a major impact on the long-term prognosis and quality of life in those patients. This report provides information on the most relevant clinical conditions of the pancreas associated with diabetes and describes therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, the significance of new onset diabetes for early diagnosis of pancreatic disease is discussed.