Pancreas is the organ in human body that secretes insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. It produces insulin when the blood sugar levels become high and the secretion of insulin is decreased when the sugar level in blood is decreased. In people with diabetes the ability of pancreas to secrete insulin to regulate blood sugar is greatly reduced.
Type 1 diabetes is caused due to attack of body's immune system on insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The cells in the pancreas that produce the much-needed insulin hormone are destroyed by these immune cells. The attack by body’s own immune system on the insulin producing cells can result in inflammation within the pancreas. This inflammation (pancreatitis) compromises the function of pancreas and it’s ability to secrete insulin to regulate blood sugar levels.
Dr Poonam Sachdeva, our in-house medical expert talks about the why what and how in diabetes.
Read more articles on Diabetes Causes and Risks