Question:
Could anyone advise me to the relationship between pancreas and diabetes?
I am 74 yrs - no weight problems - no excessive intake of sugar or
substitues..excess of anything else..
Would appreciate any advice/informtion.
Answer:
In a nutshell, the pancreas is the organ that produces insulin in the body.
Insulin is what helps your blood cells utilize the Glucose that is needed for
energy. When your pancreas stops making insulin, or it doesn't make enough,
your cells can't use the glucose and it builds up in your bloodstream.
Diabetics either do not make enough insulin naturally, or they don't make
enough. Or, they make plenty, it's just that their blood cells don't use it
properly in the absorbtion of glucose.
This is why all type 1 diabetics as well as many type 2 diabetics must
inject insulin. Most type 2 diabetics can use medications to help the blood
cells use the insulin that they make on their own. To further confuse you, it
is also possible for a type 2 diabetic to control all of this without
medications, just diet and exercise.
I hope I didn't confuse you and that I was able to help you understand a
little.
