Probing The Pancreas Probing the Pancreas Craig D. Reid, Ph.D. The human pancreas, an elongated, flattened gland behind the stomach, is involved in or affected by a number of diseases, including diabetes mellitus, cystic fibrosis, pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer. These conditions are diagnosed and treated with products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Endocrine tissue contains alpha, beta and delta cells. Beta cells produce insulin and alpha cells produce glucagon. These hormones regulate blood glucose levels.
Delta cells secrete the hormone somatostatin, which inhibits insulin and glucagon secretion.
Diabetes A deficiency of insulin in the body results in diabetes mellitus, which affects about 13 million individuals in the United States. As more glucose concentrates in the urine, more water is excreted, resulting in extreme thirst, rapid weight loss, drowsiness, fatigue, and possibly dehydration. If this condition is prolonged, the person can fall into a diabetic coma, characterized by deep labored breathing and fruity-odored breath. There are two types of diabetes. In Type I diabetes, formerly called juvenile-onset diabetes, the pancreas cannot produce insulin.