When 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 of interest anatomically is located in the abdomen and secretes hormones. The most famous secretion is insulin. However, getting more knowledge of this gland can help sufferers with Type 2 Diabetes comprehend more fully their diagnosis. The pancreas tissue is referred to as an endocrine gland. Its primary function is secretion of pancreatic fluid following eating. Inside the pancreas, though, are 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 are knowm to produce the insulin . Insulin performs many functions. It helps some cells then convert glucose into glycogen, which those cells use for energy. It helps convert a variety of amino acids into protein. This works in the fat cells to take in glucose and helps in transforming it into fat. It additionally decreases appetite in the hypothalamus. Insulin’s role in glucose regulation is how it relates directly to diabetes. Diabetes develops either when the islets of Langerhans stops producing 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 those with diabetes, the muscle cells only convert a small portion of the glucose. For a short period, the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas will increase synthesis 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. Understand that the level of insulin produced decreases. So, this then promotes the insulin requirement that alot of individuals in the later stages of the disease clearly show. To address this, many studies attempt to restore the normal amounts of insulin generated. Understand that one area of research underway looks at the possibility of transplanting healthy islets of Langerhans into the pancreases of sufferers with Type two Diabetes. Did you know there have been no successful transplants, but it is something that may indeed happen in the future.
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