What does the pancreas do?
The problem: one small organ, two major jobs
The pancreas is a thin organ located behind the stomach and beneath the liver. According to healthdirect’s overview of the pancreas, it has two primary roles:
- Digestive function
- Hormonal function
These roles are separate, but they work side by side.
The solution: understand the two pancreatic systems
The pancreas releases digestive juices into the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. These juices contain enzymes that help break down food:
- Lipase breaks down fats.
- Amylase breaks down carbohydrates.
- Proteases, including trypsin, break down proteins.
You can think of these enzymes as a specialised demolition and sorting team. They break large food molecules into smaller components so your body can absorb and use them.
The pancreas also contains clusters of hormone-producing cells called the islets of Langerhans. Within these islets:
- Beta cells produce insulin.
- Alpha cells produce glucagon.
- Other cells help regulate the release of these hormones.
Short summary: The pancreas helps you digest food and control blood glucose. Both functions matter.
Insulin: the key that helps glucose enter your cells
The problem: glucose is available, but cells cannot access it
After you eat carbohydrates, digestion converts them into glucose. This glucose enters your bloodstream and becomes available as fuel.
However, glucose cannot simply move into every cell on its own. Insulin acts like a key. It helps unlock the doors of cells so glucose can move from the bloodstream into the cells, where it can be used for energy.
When insulin is absent, insufficient, or less effective, glucose remains in the bloodstream. This can lead to high blood sugar.
This is where insulin sensitivity becomes important. Insulin sensitivity describes how effectively your cells respond to insulin. If your cells respond well, a smaller amount of insulin may be enough to move glucose into them. If they respond poorly, the pancreas may need to produce more insulin to achieve the same result.
That reduced response is commonly called insulin resistance.
The solution: support the whole control system
Insulin is not the only hormone involved. When blood sugar falls between meals, the pancreas releases glucagon. Glucagon acts in the opposite direction to insulin, signalling the liver to release stored glucose.
The two hormones work like a thermostat:
- Insulin helps lower blood glucose after it rises.
- Glucagon helps raise blood glucose when it falls.
The goal is not to force blood sugar constantly lower. The goal is appropriate regulation.
Pulse point: Healthy glucose control is about balance, not extremes.
