What Happens To The Pancreas In The Onset Of Diabetes 2 ?Get The Info! Learn The Facts!
September 1st, 2010When faced with a diagnosis of Diabetes, education and knowledge is extremely important. The pancreas is often a bit of a mystery for most people. This thing can be located in the abdomen and its job is to secrete hormones. The most famous secretion is insulin. However, understanding this gland can help patients understand their diagnosis. The pancreas itself is an endocrine gland. Its primary function is secretion of pancreatic fluid after a meal. Inside the pancreas, though, are some other small clusters of tissue that relate to insulin production. These go by the name of the islets of Langerhans.
The islets of Langerhans contain four different types of cells: beta, alpha, delta, and gamma. The beta cells produce the glucose . The insulin hormone is known to have many functions. It helps some cells convert glucose into glycogen, which those cells use for energy. It assists conversion of certain amino acids into protein. It works in fat cells to take in glucose and aids in turning it into fat. It additionally decreases appetite in the hypothalamus. Insulin’s part in gluclose regulation and contris how it relates directly to diabetes. Diabetes 2 is seen either when the islets of Langerhans stops generating the much needed insulin or when the muscle cells begin to lose their ability to process insulin efficiently.
Type 2 diabetes develops when muscle cells begin to lose their ability to process insulin efficiently. In normal cases, the muscle cells absorb the glucose and use insulin to turn it into glycogen. In individuals with Diabetes 2, the muscle cells only convert a small portion of the glucose. For a short time, the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas will increase production of insulin. However, that is not sustainable over the long run. Gradually, the amount of excess glucose begins to build in the blood stream. This condition now goes by the stamp of insulin resistance. The cells require more insulin to convert the same amount of glucose.
In those with type 2 diabetes, over time, in the pancreas, the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans that produce the insulin begin to decline over time. It is a scientifically accepted fact that the quantity of insulin produced decreases. This increases the the insulin dependency that so many sufferers in later stages of the disease display. To address this, many studies attempt to restore the normal amounts of insulin generated. Its great to know one area of research underway looks at the possibility of transplanting healthy islets of Langerhans into the pancreases of patients with Type two Diabetes. It is an undisputed fact that there have been no successful transplants, but it is something that may happen in the future.













