• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

redundant pancreas

C

coco4

Well-Known Member
Messages
751
Hi I've wondered for sometime now what happens to your pancreas once it has given up the ghost and stopped producing insulin as is obviously the case with Type 1s? Does it eventually shrivel up and disintegrate and will it pose any sort of health threat for the future?
 
It wouldn't disintegrate as it still has a blood supply going into it etc

Think of it as similar to your appendix. This is believed to be a redundant part of the bowel left over from when severe apes and ate more vegetation. Evolution hasn't got rid of it but it's still there.

I guess it could cause problems if it got infected in any way, again similar to the appendix

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Nope, as not the whole pancreas has stopped working, just the beta cells that produce insulin. There are other cells in the pancreas that produce digestive enzymes, which for most diabetics do still work (the exception being cystic fibrosis induced diabetes which is a different kettle of fish). Usually the pancreas is still there and still doing part of it's job, just slacking on the other part! :***:
 
Thanks both certainly makes sense when you you think it through. Pancreas is just not multi tasking anymore. Happy Easter everyone :lol:
 
coco4 said:
Thanks both certainly makes sense when you you think it through. Pancreas is just not multi tasking anymore. Happy Easter everyone :lol:
Click to expand...

Yes your pancreas has turned into a man!!!:evil::evil::mrgreen:

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
I'm type 1 and keep being told in in the "honeymoon period"

Who is my pancreas honeymooning with and why has it decided to leave me in the lurch?! Talk about unreliable....
 
..... mine divorced me & was removed from my body :lol: :lol:

Not having the ability to do the fat digestive process isn't much fun (the enzyme tablets are a guessing game) and I'm trying to find out if although Type 1's have no insulin production (beta cells) do you still have glucagon production (alpha cells) obviously I have neither, still on a big learning curve...
Jules
 
jules65 said:
..... mine divorced me & was removed from my body :lol: :lol:

Not having the ability to do the fat digestive process isn't much fun (the enzyme tablets are a guessing game) and I'm trying to find out if although Type 1's have no insulin production (beta cells) do you still have glucagon production (alpha cells) obviously I have neither, still on a big learning curve...
Jules
Click to expand...
Blimey! l thought sorting out my insulin was bad enough. Good luck with that!:-)

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Back
Top