Which hormones are produced by the pancreas?

The pancreas plays a very important role in our body. It is also called a mixed gland because it has two functions: an endocrine function and an exocrine function. It is one of the largest glands in the body and therefore plays an essential role in regulating blood sugar levels and digesting fats. Generally speaking, it is 15 cm long, 4 cm wide and 2 cm thick. The pancreas produces and discharges various hormones in the blood. If you need specific knowledge about the hormones produced by the pancreas, please continue reading.

Insulin

Insulin is a hormone naturally produced by the pancreas and it also regulates blood sugar levels. There are two types of insulin: fast-acting and slow-acting. For people who do not have diabetes, it is secreted continuously. However, for people with type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce this hormone. Therefore, insulin must be injected several times a day in the body to restore the normal function of the pancreas. For people living with type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does produce insulin, but at abnormal rates. These people may therefore need anti-hyperglycaemic medication to bring the blood sugar level back to normal. If you need further explanation on how insulin works, please go to https://www.pep2dia.com/.

Glucagon

Glucagon stimulates the breakdown of glycogen into glucose and has a relatively simple structure. It is a hormonal substance created by the pancreas, with the role of increasing the blood sugar level in your blood. It is an acceptably short peptide consisting of only 29 amino acids. Unlike insulin, glucagon has a hormonal function, one of hydrolysing glycogen in the liver. It causes the release of glucose molecules into the bloodstream.

Somatostatin

Somatostatin is an inhibitory protein hormone that promotes the secretion of many hormones such as the thyroid-stimulating substance, thyroliberin and corticoliberin, gastrin, somathormone, insulin, and glucagon. It is a peptide that occurs in two active forms: one of 14 amino acids and one of 28 amino acids. Additionally, somatostatin reduces the circulatory flow in the splanchnic system and intestinal and gastric motility. This hormone is secreted by the hypothalamus, the central nervous system, certain neuroendocrine cells of the gastrointestinal tract as well as the pancreas. Somatostatin also decreases the movement of the digestive muscles.