Epidemiological studies support strong links between obesity, diabetes and pancreatic disorders including pancreatitis and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is associated with insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, the latter due to increased insulin secretion by pancreatic beta-cells. We reported that high fat diet-induced PDAC progression in mice is associated with hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and activation of pancreatic stellate cells (PaSC). We investigated here the effects of high concentrations of insulin and glucose on mouse and human PaSC growth and fibrosing responses. We found that compared to normal, pancreata from T2DM patients displayed extensive collagen deposition and activated PaSC in islet and peri-islet exocrine pancreas. Mice fed a high-fat diet for up to 12 months similarly displayed increasing peri-islet fibrosis compared to mice fed control diet. Both quiescent and activated PaSC co-express insulin (IR; mainly A type) and IGF (IGF-1R) receptors, and both insulin and glucose modulate receptor expression. In cultured PaSC, insulin induced rapid tyrosine autophosphorylation of IR/IGF-1R at specific kinase domain activation loop sites, activated Akt/mTOR/p70S6K signaling and inactivated FoxO1, a transcription factor that restrains cell growth. Insulin did not promote activation of quiescent PaSC in either 5 mM or 25 mM glucose containing media. However, in activated PaSC, insulin enhanced cell proliferation and augmented production of extracellular matrix proteins, and these effects were abolished by specific inhibition of mTORC1 and mTORC2. In conclusion, our data supports the concept that increased local glucose and insulin concentrations associated with obesity and T2DM promote PaSC growth and fibrosing responses.