The Pancreas

Pancreas difficulties

Diseases in the pancreas are uncommon and difficult to diagnose when they do occur. Infection, cancers, and wasting-away of this gland produce body difficulties such as great pain, jaundice, and intense prolonged diarrhea. The physician’s investigation alone can bring to light pancreatic difficulties, because this organ in its hidden away location, cannot be felt, examined or in any way be mechanically investigated. Complex laboratory tests must be relied upon to uncover any disease in this organ.

Diabetes Mellitus (Sugar Diabetes). Diabetes properly is a dis-

PANCREAS
KIDNEY
URETER

Fig. 82. The abdomen-with intestinal tract removed-reveals kidneys, pancreas and large blood vessels to the legs. The pancreas is located deep within the abdomen, and contributes greatly to the digestive process as well as producing a hormone for the body. It is essential to vigorous health, but when removed its function can be carried on artificially.

Intestine

Fig. 83. Pancreatitis is an irritation of the pancreas itself. It is thought to be caused by stone formation within it, repeated bouts of alcoholism, and irritation with liver bile.

Insulin producing islets
Venus drainage
Arterial blood supply

Fig. 84. The pancreas also produces the hormone insulin which is poured into the bloodstream. Absence of insulin means diabetes, unless it is given by hypo as a replacement.

ease of the pancreas, because its failure to manufacture the hormone insulin is directly responsible for the disease. The pancreas manufactures insulin in normal health, but in diabetes, because of a lack of insulin, the body fails to properly use sugar. Sugars from our food, needed as body builders, are not utilized, but lost through the urine. The strength, vigor and repair of the body falls below par and serious complications then arise.

Normally, sweets and starches we eat are absorbed as sugar and policed in the bloodstream by insulin from the pancreas, so that the body can use it. In diabetes, where insulin is lacking, there is a resulting flood of sugar into the body during eating, and it actually spills over into the urine through the kidneys. The urine is even sweet to taste.

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