How does the Pancreas Affect Diabetes?

Learn how the pancreas functions and the effect it has on diabetics. Read on to find the answers for your pancreas questions.

The Pancreas has two glands:

Exocrine
These are the glands that discharge the hormones into the ducts. These are the digestive enzymes that are released into the duodenum.

Endocrine
These are the glands that secrets hormones into the blood. These hormones are glucagons and insulin which control the blood sugar level.

The pancreas is positioned under the stomach and the head of the pancreas is wrapped with the duodenum.

Alkaline liquid termed bile is conveyed from the gall bladder to the pancreas via a bile duct. This bile duct connects the pancreas at the pancreas duct. The bile helps in digesting the lipids. The digestive juices and alkaline fluids are collected by the pancreatic duct. These digestive juices are chymotrypsin, trypsin, pancreatic amylase and pancreatic lipase. All these juices and fluids are emptied into the duodenum just before the ampulla of Vater. This ampula of Vater is responsible for regulating the flow of pancreatic juices and bile in to duodenum.

The enzymes which are active in digestion of fat, carbohydrates and proteins flow via these ducts continuously when the foods are still in the small intestine. Around 40 ounces of these juices are daily secreted. The flow of these juices is regulated by the hormone secretion, vagus nerves and by pancreozymin.

As soon as the food enters the duodenum, pancreozymin and secretin released into blood by the cells of duodenum. The moment these hormones approach pancreas, its cells are triggered to release large quantities of digestive enzymes. When these enzymes approaches intestine the duodenum immediately stop performing its function of releasing pancreozymin and secretin.

The cells of the pancreas that are responsible of producing digestive enzymes are termed acinar cells. The fine tubules situated at the base of the cells generates the secretary granules. Stucked between the acinar cells are islets of Langerhans. These islets of Langerhans are responsible for secreting glucagons and insulin. These insulin and glucagons regulates the quantity of glucose stored in body. The insulin and glucagons are secreted directly into the blood.

Insulin is important for the metabolism of sugars and carbohydrates. Glucose is stored in the form of glycogen because of insulin. The body cells are stimulated by insulin to eliminate sugar from the blood and use it. Diabetes mellitus is caused if there is an insufficiency of insulin. Because of this insufficiency the sugar stays in the blood and it is not converted in the form of glycogen. If there is more insulin than required then the amount of sugar in the blood drops down the required level.

Diabetics are in a better position of understanding when they are told by the doctor that there pancreas is not functioning properly. Remember proper knowledge is the key to control diabetes.

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