Pancreas plays an important role in digestion of food. It is situated near the stomach close to the liver and small intestine. Pancreas is made up of the exocrine and the endocrine pancreas. The exocrine pancreas produces enzymes and digestive juices that are required to digest the food. The endocrine pancreas produces important hormones such as insulin and glucagon that help maintain glucose levels in the body.Pancreatic health is essential for the proper functioning of other organs. Poor pancreatic function can lead to conditions like pancreatitis (inflammation in the pancreas), Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, cystic tumours of the pancreas and pancreatic cancer. One possible reason for pancreatic malfunction is accumulation of excess fat in the body. This affects the liver, muscles and causes insulin resistance. Due to insulin resistance, the insulin produced by the pancreas loses its ability to work efficiently. This causes the pancreas to overwork and produce more insulin. Ultimately more and more insulin cannot be produced and that results in Diabetes.Poor functioningPoor or no pancreatic functioning can cause Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, acute and chronic pancreatitis and enlarged pancreas. Acute pancreatitis is caused by scarring of the pancreatic tissue which causes inflammation (swelling). When this swelling goes unchecked it leads to chronic pancreatitis. This in turn results in permanently damaging the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis is also known to cause benign and cancer tumours in the pancreas.Causes of pancreatitis are:gallstonesAlcoholismheredityhigh fat and calcium levelsuse of certain medications like antidepressants, immunosuppressant, antibiotics and corticosteroidsOral medication is required to increase pancreatic functioning..Sugar levels and pancreasManaging sugar levels is important to keep the pancreas healthy. If the sugar levels rise beyond a certain point, they start to have an adverse effect on the pancreas called glucotoxicity. Glucotoxicity causes the beta cells of the pancreas to be destroyed due to continuous high blood glucose levels (chronic hyperglycaemia). It can also result in worsening of Diabetes and the start of Diabetes-related complications..Type 1 Diabetes and pancreasType 1 Diabetes affects the endocrine pancreas. In Type 1 Diabetes, the beta cells are destroyed by the immune system affecting insulin production in the body.This causes high sugar levels in the blood. Type 1 Diabetes also affects the exocrine pancreas. Type 1 Diabetes causes the exocrine pancreas to shrink by 50 per cent of its original size. Pancreatic functioning also decreases.Type 2 Diabetes and pancreasPeople with Type 2 Diabetes are more at risk of developing pancreatitis. Studies have also shown that there can be a lot of scarring in the pancreas in Type 2 Diabetes. We believe that high glucose levels and other reasons cause scarring in the pancreasPancreatic conditions in childrenChildren can develop acute pancreatitis and Type 1 Diabetes. As obesity is becoming more common, Diabetes begins to occur at a very young age. But another common problem seen in children is pancreatitis.Pancreatitis in children can be caused by many reasons such as physical injury, gallstones, certain medication or problem in the liver or in the pancreas.Pancreatic conditions in pregnant womenThe most common problems seen in pregnant women are pancreatitis and gallstones. Most of the pancreatitis in pregnant women is related to gallstones. Gallstones, when they leave the gall bladder and come down, can inflame the pancreas.Autoimmune pancreatitisAutoimmune pancreatitis is a form of chronic pancreatitis where the individual's body attacks and damages healthy tissue resulting in swelling and scarring of the pancreas. Autoimmune pancreatitis affects the exocrine pancreas. It is a rare disease that attacks the pancreas after which the individual develops jaundice. There are two types of autoimmune pancreatitis - one that affects multiple organs like liver, kidneys, salivary glands and bile ducts. The other type affects only the pancreas.Symptoms of autoimmune pancreatitis resemble to that of pancreatic cancer. They are weight loss, jaundice, upper abdominal or back pain, dark urine, nausea and vomiting, feeling of weakness or extreme tiredness and a loss of appetite or feelings of fullness.Though the exact cause of autoimmune pancreatitis is still unknown, it is treated using steroids..Managing pancreas healthPoor dietary habits like eating large quantities of refined and processed foods can lead to obesity. This can adversely affect the endocrine pancreas. A balanced diet is recommended to manage pancreatic health. Eat more fruits and vegetables and opt for leaner cuts of meat. Abstain from smoking and drinking.Regular exercise can lower the risk of pancreatic cancer.An endocrinologist is consulted for the endocrine pancreas and a gastroenterologist is consulted for problems related to the exocrine pancreas.Insulin pump and pancreasInsulin pumps are devices attached to the abdomen through a patch that monitor the sugar levels in the body and deliver inulin as required. Insulin pumps reproduce the functioning of the pancreas and deliver insulin. This helps the body meet its insulin requirement. Insulin administration through pumps is safe and relatively pain-free as compared to insulin needles and pens. Use of the insulin pump reduces the number of daily pricks and provides better blood sugar control. Insulin pumps help avoid deterioration of pancreatic health, prevent worsening of Diabetes and also prevent complications that may arise due to uncontrolled Diabetes.Dr Suresh T Chari is Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepat,& Nutr, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TXHe has served as Director of Pancreas Clinic at Mayo Clinic Rochester and was also the former president of the American Pancreatic Association.
Pancreas plays an important role in digestion of food. It is situated near the stomach close to the liver and small intestine. Pancreas is made up of the exocrine and the endocrine pancreas. The exocrine pancreas produces enzymes and digestive juices that are required to digest the food. The endocrine pancreas produces important hormones such as insulin and glucagon that help maintain glucose levels in the body.Pancreatic health is essential for the proper functioning of other organs. Poor pancreatic function can lead to conditions like pancreatitis (inflammation in the pancreas), Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, cystic tumours of the pancreas and pancreatic cancer. One possible reason for pancreatic malfunction is accumulation of excess fat in the body. This affects the liver, muscles and causes insulin resistance. Due to insulin resistance, the insulin produced by the pancreas loses its ability to work efficiently. This causes the pancreas to overwork and produce more insulin. Ultimately more and more insulin cannot be produced and that results in Diabetes.Poor functioningPoor or no pancreatic functioning can cause Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, acute and chronic pancreatitis and enlarged pancreas. Acute pancreatitis is caused by scarring of the pancreatic tissue which causes inflammation (swelling). When this swelling goes unchecked it leads to chronic pancreatitis. This in turn results in permanently damaging the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis is also known to cause benign and cancer tumours in the pancreas.Causes of pancreatitis are:gallstonesAlcoholismheredityhigh fat and calcium levelsuse of certain medications like antidepressants, immunosuppressant, antibiotics and corticosteroidsOral medication is required to increase pancreatic functioning..Sugar levels and pancreasManaging sugar levels is important to keep the pancreas healthy. If the sugar levels rise beyond a certain point, they start to have an adverse effect on the pancreas called glucotoxicity. Glucotoxicity causes the beta cells of the pancreas to be destroyed due to continuous high blood glucose levels (chronic hyperglycaemia). It can also result in worsening of Diabetes and the start of Diabetes-related complications..Type 1 Diabetes and pancreasType 1 Diabetes affects the endocrine pancreas. In Type 1 Diabetes, the beta cells are destroyed by the immune system affecting insulin production in the body.This causes high sugar levels in the blood. Type 1 Diabetes also affects the exocrine pancreas. Type 1 Diabetes causes the exocrine pancreas to shrink by 50 per cent of its original size. Pancreatic functioning also decreases.Type 2 Diabetes and pancreasPeople with Type 2 Diabetes are more at risk of developing pancreatitis. Studies have also shown that there can be a lot of scarring in the pancreas in Type 2 Diabetes. We believe that high glucose levels and other reasons cause scarring in the pancreasPancreatic conditions in childrenChildren can develop acute pancreatitis and Type 1 Diabetes. As obesity is becoming more common, Diabetes begins to occur at a very young age. But another common problem seen in children is pancreatitis.Pancreatitis in children can be caused by many reasons such as physical injury, gallstones, certain medication or problem in the liver or in the pancreas.Pancreatic conditions in pregnant womenThe most common problems seen in pregnant women are pancreatitis and gallstones. Most of the pancreatitis in pregnant women is related to gallstones. Gallstones, when they leave the gall bladder and come down, can inflame the pancreas.Autoimmune pancreatitisAutoimmune pancreatitis is a form of chronic pancreatitis where the individual's body attacks and damages healthy tissue resulting in swelling and scarring of the pancreas. Autoimmune pancreatitis affects the exocrine pancreas. It is a rare disease that attacks the pancreas after which the individual develops jaundice. There are two types of autoimmune pancreatitis - one that affects multiple organs like liver, kidneys, salivary glands and bile ducts. The other type affects only the pancreas.Symptoms of autoimmune pancreatitis resemble to that of pancreatic cancer. They are weight loss, jaundice, upper abdominal or back pain, dark urine, nausea and vomiting, feeling of weakness or extreme tiredness and a loss of appetite or feelings of fullness.Though the exact cause of autoimmune pancreatitis is still unknown, it is treated using steroids..Managing pancreas healthPoor dietary habits like eating large quantities of refined and processed foods can lead to obesity. This can adversely affect the endocrine pancreas. A balanced diet is recommended to manage pancreatic health. Eat more fruits and vegetables and opt for leaner cuts of meat. Abstain from smoking and drinking.Regular exercise can lower the risk of pancreatic cancer.An endocrinologist is consulted for the endocrine pancreas and a gastroenterologist is consulted for problems related to the exocrine pancreas.Insulin pump and pancreasInsulin pumps are devices attached to the abdomen through a patch that monitor the sugar levels in the body and deliver inulin as required. Insulin pumps reproduce the functioning of the pancreas and deliver insulin. This helps the body meet its insulin requirement. Insulin administration through pumps is safe and relatively pain-free as compared to insulin needles and pens. Use of the insulin pump reduces the number of daily pricks and provides better blood sugar control. Insulin pumps help avoid deterioration of pancreatic health, prevent worsening of Diabetes and also prevent complications that may arise due to uncontrolled Diabetes.Dr Suresh T Chari is Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepat,& Nutr, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TXHe has served as Director of Pancreas Clinic at Mayo Clinic Rochester and was also the former president of the American Pancreatic Association.
