The pancreas produces insulin and digestive enzymes. These "juices" are made in the pancreas and travel through a small tube directly in the intestine to help digest food. This process turns the food into glucose which is your body's main source of energy.

After food is broken down into glucose, it passes through the intestine wall into your bloodstream. Special cells in the pancreas sense rising levels of blood sugar. These cells then produce the hormone insulin. The insulin travels through your bloodstream and attaches itself to insulin receptors which are special sites on the outside of cells. This process is like using a key (insulin) to open a lock (the insulin receptors).

You may develop diabetes if your pancreas does not produce insulin like it is supposed to. Click here to read more.

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