
What conditions and disorders can affect the pancreas? Though pancreatic removal is rare, surgeons may remove your entire pancreas if you have pancreatic cancer, major injury to your pancreas or severe pancreatitis. However, you will need to take enzyme pills to digest food and insulin shots to control your blood sugar for the rest of your life. Your heart and circulatory system and nervous system also need balanced levels of insulin and glucagon to function. Your body needs balanced blood sugar to help with your kidneys, liver and brain. Glucagon: Increases low blood sugar levels.Insulin: Reduces high blood sugar levels.The endocrine glands in your pancreas release hormones that control blood sugar (glucose). How does the pancreas affect blood sugar? Both the bile and the pancreatic enzymes enter your duodenum to break down food.From the gallbladder, the bile travels to part of your small intestine called the duodenum.

This duct transports bile from your liver to your gallbladder. Your main pancreatic duct connects with your bile duct.


These glands control many of your body’s functions.īesides the pancreas, your endocrine system includes the:Īn exocrine gland runs the length of your pancreas. The endocrine system consists of glands that release hormones into your blood. Besides the pancreas, the exocrine system includes: The exocrine system consists of glands that make substances that travel through a duct (tube).

Exocrine function: Produces substances (enzymes) that help with digestion.The pancreas performs two main functions: Glands are organs that produce and release substances in the body. The pancreas is an organ in the back of your abdomen (belly).
