If the pancreas' ability to secrete enough insulin is impaired, diabetes mellitus can develop and insulin may be required as a medication. In contrast, glucagon is released by the pancreas when blood glucose dips below the normal range. Glucagon signals the liver to release stored glucose back into the blood. Without glucagon, blood sugar can drop too low and result in severe hypoglycemia, and possibly brain injury as a result. When there is damage to the cells of the pancreas, inflammation or pancreatitis occurs.
Pancreatitis can either be acute or chronic.
Chronic pancreatitis refers to a long-term condition that consists of life long treatment to prevent associated symptoms. Acute Pancreatitis Acute pancreatitis is a disease that effects both men and women of middle and older age equally. The leading causes of acute pancreatitis are alcohol intake and cholesterol gallstones. Alcohol intake is the most common cause of pancreatitis among men and gallstones the most common among women. About 80 percent of people hospitalized for acute pancreatitis have mild disease and are treated with mild pain medications and no food by mouth.