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The Pancreas and Islets
The pancreas is an organ approximately the size of a hand that is located behind the lower part of the stomach. It makes insulin and enzymes that help the body use and digest food. Throughout the pancreas, there are clusters of cells called islets. Islets are made up of two types of cells. Alpha cells make glucagons, a hormone that raises the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. The beta cells make the insulin, a hormone that helps the body use glucose for energy. If your beta cells do not produce enough insulin, diabetes will develop. In Type 1 Diabetes, the insulin shortage is caused by an autoimmune process in which the beta cells are destroyed by the body’s immune system.
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