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What is a Pancreas?

The pancreas is a long, soft organ that lies transversely along the posterior abdominal wall, posterior to the stomach, and extends from the region of the duodenum to the spleen. This gland has two major tissue types:

1. an exocrine portion (acini) that secretes digestive enzymes that are carried through a duct to the duodenum
2. an endocrine portion (islets of Langerhans) which consists of the pancreatic islets that secrete glucagons and insulin

Endocrine tissue contains alpha, beta, and delta cells. Alpha cells in the pancreatic islets secrete the hormone glucagons in response to a low concentration of glucose in the blood. Beta cells secrete the hormone insulin in response to a high concentration of glucose in the blood. Delta cells secrete the hormone somatostatin, which inhibits insulin and glucagon secretion.

How Does the Pancreas Relate to Diabetes?

Simply put, diabetes is the result of a deficiency of insulin, which is found in the endocrine tissue of the pancreas. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas cannot produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes usually begins with a condition called insulin resistance; the pancreas can produce insulin but the cells do not respond to it. Over time, insulin production declines as well, so many people with type 2 diabetes eventually need to take insulin.

Traditional treatment of diabetes includes the regulated use of insulin and/or oral medications, in addition to proper diet and exercise. There are also three procedures that can potentially treat diabetes:
1. Pancreatic islet transplant
2. Pancreas transplant
3. Artificial pancreas


Sources:
1 - Probing the Pancreas. U. S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.foodsafety.gov/~dms/fdpancre.html (Accessed 07/09)

2 - Pancreas—Islets of Langerhans. National Cancer Institute. http://training.seer.cancer.gov/anatomy/endocrine/glands/pancreas.html (Accessed 07/09)