The pancreas is a hard working organ because it has two important functions. Its first main function is to produce pancreatic juices that aid in digesting food in the small intestine. Its other function is to produce hormones that help regulate blood sugar levels. The main hormone that is produced by the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas and is linked to diabetes is insulin.

During digestion, the carbohydrates in food are converted to glucose which enters the bloodstream. This signals the pancreas to release insulin which helps glucose into the body’s cells where they are used up as an energy source. Some of the glucose is stored in the liver for emergency purposes. When glucose levels become too low, glucagon, which is also produced by the pancreas is secreted and the glucose supply in the liver is released.

Diabetes

There are two kinds of diabetes, type 1 and type 2 with the second type being more common. In type 1 diabetes some of the cells that make insulin are destroyed by the immune systems. Scientists are not sure why this happens but the destruction results in not having enough insulin to lower blood sugar levels. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas still produces insulin but the cells of the body may become resistant to it. It is also possible that not enough insulin is secreted by people with type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms

Diabetes of both types may share similar or common symptoms. A person with diabetes may feel fatigued and frequently hungry. The lack of insulin results in not enough sugar entering the cells to provide energy, leaving you tired even with minimal exertion. This in turn will increase your desire to eat since the body is desperate for an energy source.

People with diabetes will also feel thirsty more often, making them drink and urinate more. Thirst is the result of glucose drawing on body fluids. In severe cases, people may suffer from hazy vision because even the fluids in the eyes become affected.

Complications

If diabetes is left untreated for a long period of time, one could develop life-threatening conditions. Among the possible health problems that could result from diabetes are vision impairment, heart disease, kidney failure, damage to the nerves and vulnerability to skin infections.

Prevention

Because the causes of type 1 diabetes are not fully understood, no strategy can be devised for its prevention. There is no way you can stop genetic predisposition or the immune system from attacking the cells in your pancreas.

Experts suggest though that you may be able to prevent type 2 diabetes by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and habits. Foods with saturated fats and simple carbohydrates should be minimized or avoided. Regular exercise and maintaining your ideal weight may also help prevent type 2 diabetes.

The pancreas would look much like a yellow tongue with a pointed tip. Others would see it as looking slightly similar to a tadpole. This organ that is part of the digestive system is actually no more than 6-7 inches long. The wider end of it which is sometimes called a head is located next to the duodenum which is the uppermost portion of the small intestine. The rest of its body and tail stretches out and ends near the spleen. The two major tissues and cells that make its functions possible are the endocrine and exocrine cells.

Functions of the Pancreas

Pancreatic or digestive juices are produced by clusters of exocrine cells. The juices produced are in an inactive state while in the pancreas. The fluid is transported through the pancreatic duct and then to the common bile duct and eventually to the small intestine through the duodenum where it becomes active. Together with bile from the liver and gall bladder, pancreatic juices help in proper digestion. Pancreatic juices break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins. It also neutralizes gastric juices.

The pancreas also contains endocrine cells grouped together and collectively known as the islets of Langerhans. These cells release hormones that are crucial to maintaining normal glucose levels. Insulin lowers the levels of blood sugar by letting glucose enter cells that use it for energy. Glucagon raises the levels of blood glucose if the levels are too little. A third substance, somatostatin manages the release of both glucagon and insulin. If everything is well in the pancreas, the secreted substances from the endocrine cells work in automatic cooperation with each other.

Problems with the Pancreas

Some people may not be so fortunate to have healthy and fully functional pancreases. This may lead to the development of some diseases.

The most well known disorder that affects the pancreas is type 1 diabetes. People with this condition can’t release sufficient insulin to regulate blood glucose levels. This results in bouts of dangerously high glucose levels that may lead to organ damage.

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas. The chronic type can severely injure both the exocrine and endocrine cells. Diabetes and poor absorption of nutrients may result from the damage. It is believed that extreme and prolonged alcohol drinking may play a role in the development of pancreatitis.

Pancreatic cancer is a condition with causes that are not fully understood. It also does not seem to be as common as other types of cancer in some parts of the world but it is a very deadly condition. A person with pancreatic cancer may not immediately show symptoms until the advanced stages of the condition. Some patients die in less than one year after diagnosis.

To be able to appreciate the value and role of an artificial pancreas in the lives of diabetics, one must first be able to understand the basic function of the pancreas. Aside from producing fluids that aid in digestion, this small organ also generates hormones that manage a person’s blood sugar levels.

The actual interplay of hormones and glucose is actually a little complicated but to put it simply, the pancreas releases insulin whenever we eat. It is insulin that helps sugar from food enter the cells for energy consumption. People with type 1 diabetes can’t secrete the right amount of insulin. This therefore leads to high blood sugar levels which, in the long run can eventually damage the cells and organs in the body. Long-term mismanagement of diabetes can lead to heart failure, kidney failure and blindness.

Development Objectives

Taking daily doses of insulin requires a lot of discipline. Sometimes it can be very inconvenient. An artificial pancreas is therefore ideal because it can monitor glucose levels and automatically administer machine-computed amounts of insulin. This can drastically improve the quality of life of diabetic patients by allowing them to worry less over proper insulin administration.

In recent years, studies and clinical tests have been conducted in the UK, France and the US. At present though, the artificial pancreas is a piece of technology that is still in the process of being thoroughly developed.

Artificial Pancreas

In 2001, the world had a glimpse of the first fully implantable artificial heart that was shaped like a real heart. An artificial pancreas is different. Current technological developments reveal that it will not look much like a real pancreas. It will instead be primarily composed of a glucose sensor and an insulin pump. It is however different from the manual sensors and pumps that we have been used to. Both the pump and sensor in an artificial pancreas will be fully automatic.

The glucose sensor will be responsible for continuously monitoring a person’s glucose levels. The insulin pump will then deliver the exact amount of insulin needed based on the sensor’s given data. There will be no need for typical glucose finger strip readings