Pancreas, Blood glucose levels, Diabetes

pancreas

Consists of cells that form clusters known as pancreatic islets, or islets of langerhans main cells are alpha and beta cells

What do alpha cells secrete

Glucagon

What do beta cells secrete

Insulin

When blood glucose levels rise after a meal

Beta cells secrete insulin into the bloodstream stimulating transport of glucose across plasma membranes

When blood glucose levels decline

Alpha cells release glucagon, stimulating glucose release by liver (break down glycogen)

Diabetes

Is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin and/or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces

Fast facts on diabetes

The number of people with diabetes has risen from 108 million in 1980 to in 2023 an estimated 529 million adults globally have diabetes

38.4 million people of all ages or 11.6% of the U.S. population had diabetes, 38.1 million aged 18 or older