glucose glucose glucose!

[sheanna]

Hi there!

So yes we all pretty much have failed pancreases. However, the pancreas is more than just an enzyme-producing organ- it also produces things like hormones, ions, and mucous.

In the pancreas, the beta cells are the ones that produce insulin (a hormone that promotes cellular uptake of glucose, and lowers blodd sugar) and glucagon (a hormone that inhibits cellular glucose intake, and therefore raises blood sugar). These are the cells that are affected in diabetics. Because the pancreas is a distribution of all these different types of cells, it is possible to be enzymatically deficient and still have some control over beta cells- they just haven't scared over.

Unlike Type I diabetes, where the beta cells are specifically targeted by the immune system, in CF it is sort of a crap shoot. If the pancreas has enough cells to produce these hormones, and enough healthy tissue to distribute it, you will either be normal or borderline diabetic.

Hope that explains things a little.

 

[sheanna]

Hi there!

So yes we all pretty much have failed pancreases. However, the pancreas is more than just an enzyme-producing organ- it also produces things like hormones, ions, and mucous.

In the pancreas, the beta cells are the ones that produce insulin (a hormone that promotes cellular uptake of glucose, and lowers blodd sugar) and glucagon (a hormone that inhibits cellular glucose intake, and therefore raises blood sugar). These are the cells that are affected in diabetics. Because the pancreas is a distribution of all these different types of cells, it is possible to be enzymatically deficient and still have some control over beta cells- they just haven't scared over.

Unlike Type I diabetes, where the beta cells are specifically targeted by the immune system, in CF it is sort of a crap shoot. If the pancreas has enough cells to produce these hormones, and enough healthy tissue to distribute it, you will either be normal or borderline diabetic.

Hope that explains things a little.

 

[sheanna]

Hi there!

So yes we all pretty much have failed pancreases. However, the pancreas is more than just an enzyme-producing organ- it also produces things like hormones, ions, and mucous.

In the pancreas, the beta cells are the ones that produce insulin (a hormone that promotes cellular uptake of glucose, and lowers blodd sugar) and glucagon (a hormone that inhibits cellular glucose intake, and therefore raises blood sugar). These are the cells that are affected in diabetics. Because the pancreas is a distribution of all these different types of cells, it is possible to be enzymatically deficient and still have some control over beta cells- they just haven't scared over.

Unlike Type I diabetes, where the beta cells are specifically targeted by the immune system, in CF it is sort of a crap shoot. If the pancreas has enough cells to produce these hormones, and enough healthy tissue to distribute it, you will either be normal or borderline diabetic.

Hope that explains things a little.

 

[sheanna]

Hi there!

So yes we all pretty much have failed pancreases. However, the pancreas is more than just an enzyme-producing organ- it also produces things like hormones, ions, and mucous.

In the pancreas, the beta cells are the ones that produce insulin (a hormone that promotes cellular uptake of glucose, and lowers blodd sugar) and glucagon (a hormone that inhibits cellular glucose intake, and therefore raises blood sugar). These are the cells that are affected in diabetics. Because the pancreas is a distribution of all these different types of cells, it is possible to be enzymatically deficient and still have some control over beta cells- they just haven't scared over.

Unlike Type I diabetes, where the beta cells are specifically targeted by the immune system, in CF it is sort of a crap shoot. If the pancreas has enough cells to produce these hormones, and enough healthy tissue to distribute it, you will either be normal or borderline diabetic.

Hope that explains things a little.

 

[sheanna]

Hi there!
<br />
<br />So yes we all pretty much have failed pancreases. However, the pancreas is more than just an enzyme-producing organ- it also produces things like hormones, ions, and mucous.
<br />
<br />In the pancreas, the beta cells are the ones that produce insulin (a hormone that promotes cellular uptake of glucose, and lowers blodd sugar) and glucagon (a hormone that inhibits cellular glucose intake, and therefore raises blood sugar). These are the cells that are affected in diabetics. Because the pancreas is a distribution of all these different types of cells, it is possible to be enzymatically deficient and still have some control over beta cells- they just haven't scared over.
<br />
<br />Unlike Type I diabetes, where the beta cells are specifically targeted by the immune system, in CF it is sort of a crap shoot. If the pancreas has enough cells to produce these hormones, and enough healthy tissue to distribute it, you will either be normal or borderline diabetic.
<br />
<br />Hope that explains things a little.

 

[TestifyToLove]

M is so pancreatic insufficient that he also has to have enzymes for even his meds. If you give him his sleeping pill at night without an enzyme, it does nothing for him, its that bad. But, we take fasting glucose levels weekly (because he's on a med that can interfer with blood sugars) and so far his fasting blood sugars are fine and he's not diabetic yet. I have no doubt he someday will go diabetic, but he's not there yet. His pancreas may produce absolutely NO digestive enzymes anymore but the beta cells are still releasing insulin into his bloodstream.

 

[TestifyToLove]

M is so pancreatic insufficient that he also has to have enzymes for even his meds. If you give him his sleeping pill at night without an enzyme, it does nothing for him, its that bad. But, we take fasting glucose levels weekly (because he's on a med that can interfer with blood sugars) and so far his fasting blood sugars are fine and he's not diabetic yet. I have no doubt he someday will go diabetic, but he's not there yet. His pancreas may produce absolutely NO digestive enzymes anymore but the beta cells are still releasing insulin into his bloodstream.

 

[TestifyToLove]

M is so pancreatic insufficient that he also has to have enzymes for even his meds. If you give him his sleeping pill at night without an enzyme, it does nothing for him, its that bad. But, we take fasting glucose levels weekly (because he's on a med that can interfer with blood sugars) and so far his fasting blood sugars are fine and he's not diabetic yet. I have no doubt he someday will go diabetic, but he's not there yet. His pancreas may produce absolutely NO digestive enzymes anymore but the beta cells are still releasing insulin into his bloodstream.

 

[TestifyToLove]

M is so pancreatic insufficient that he also has to have enzymes for even his meds. If you give him his sleeping pill at night without an enzyme, it does nothing for him, its that bad. But, we take fasting glucose levels weekly (because he's on a med that can interfer with blood sugars) and so far his fasting blood sugars are fine and he's not diabetic yet. I have no doubt he someday will go diabetic, but he's not there yet. His pancreas may produce absolutely NO digestive enzymes anymore but the beta cells are still releasing insulin into his bloodstream.

 

[TestifyToLove]

M is so pancreatic insufficient that he also has to have enzymes for even his meds. If you give him his sleeping pill at night without an enzyme, it does nothing for him, its that bad. But, we take fasting glucose levels weekly (because he's on a med that can interfer with blood sugars) and so far his fasting blood sugars are fine and he's not diabetic yet. I have no doubt he someday will go diabetic, but he's not there yet. His pancreas may produce absolutely NO digestive enzymes anymore but the beta cells are still releasing insulin into his bloodstream.