Diabetes+Type+2+by+Mercedes+and+Jessica

The organ behind the liver and next to the small intestine, called the pancreas, is what produces insulin. In a normal, healthy body, clusters of cells in the pancreas called the Islets of Langerhans (named after the scientist that discovered them) produce a chemical called insulin with beta cells. This chemical is released into the bloodstream with glucose, a form of sugar. Glucose is what the body breaks down your food into. We need glucose to supply us with energy. To let the glucose into the cells, insulin acts like a visa into the cells. Without insulin, the glucose cannot enter the cells and supply it with energy. People with type 2 diabetes cannot produce enough insulin to regulate the cells or their cells respond improperly to the insulin. Dogs can have diabetes, too.

Thousands of people in history have died from diabetes before the cause was found. Before insulin shots and diabetes pills, being diagnosed with diabetes usually meant a death sentence. The Ancient Greeks named the disease //diabetes//, stemmed from the Greek word 'to flow' or 'to siphon'. They beleived that the flesh of the body was melting and being transformed into urine. Later, the Romans added the Latin word //mellitus//, which meant 'sweet, honeylike'. Diabetes mellitus is the formal name of the disease today.


 * Quiz Question: What are the clusters of cells in the pancreas called?**

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