Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make enough or any insulin. Conversely, type 2 diabetes develops when the body cannot use insulin correctly.

In this article, we look at the role of the pancreas in diabetes. We also describe complications of diabetes that relate to the pancreas and other disorders of the organ.

The pancreas producesTrusted Source digestive enzymes and sits within the abdomen, behind the stomach.

This organ also produces insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood glucose levels. The cells that produce insulin are called beta cells and sit in the islets of Langerhans, a set of structures within the pancreas.

Insulin helps the body use carbohydrates in food for energy and helps transport glucose from the blood into the body’s cells. Glucose provides the cells with the energy they need to function.

If there is insufficient insulin in the body, cells can no longer take up glucose from the blood. As a result, levels of glucose in the blood rise. A doctor may refer to this as having high blood glucose, or hyperglycemia.

Hyperglycemia is responsible for most of the symptoms and complications of diabetes.

The main feature of diabetes is high blood glucose. This results from insufficient insulin production or function, which can result from issues with the pancreas.

People with diabetes experience high or low blood glucose levels at different times, depending on what they eat, how much they exercise, and whether they take insulin or diabetes medication.

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes both involveTrusted Source the pancreas.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make enough, or any, insulin. Without this hormone, the cells cannot get enough energy from food.

This form of diabetes results from the body’s immune system attacking the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The beta cells become damaged and, over time, the pancreas stops producing enough insulin to meet the body’s needs.

People with type 1 diabetes can rebalance their blood glucose levels by receiving insulin injections or wearing an insulin pump every day.

Doctors once called this type “juvenile diabetes” because it often develops during the childhood or teenage years.

There is no clear cause of type 1 diabetes. Some evidenceTrusted Source suggests that it results from genetic or environmental factors. Almost 1.9 million people in the United States are living with type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes

This type of diabetes occurs when the body builds up a resistance to insulin. While the pancreas may still produce the hormone, the body’s cells cannot use it effectively.

As a result, the pancreas produces more insulin to meet the body’s needs and is often unable to keep up with the increased demand.

With too little insulin in the body, diabetes develops. Over time, the beta cells become damaged and may stop producing insulin altogether.

As with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes can cause high blood glucose levels and prevent the cells from getting enough energy.

Type 2 diabetes may result from genetics and family history. Lifestyle factors, such as obesity, lack of exercise, and dietary choices, also play a role. Treatment often involves becoming more active, making dietary changes, and taking some prescription medications.

A doctor may be able to detect type 2 diabetes early, in a stage called prediabetes. A person with prediabetes may be able to prevent or delay the onset of the condition by making changes to their diet and exercise routines.

Gestational diabetes

Pregnancy can cause type 2 diabetes, known as gestational diabetes, which can result from complications during pregnancy and delivery.

After a person gives birth, gestational diabetes usually goes away, though it may increaseTrusted Source the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.