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| The pancreas is a small organ, approximately six inches
long, located in the upper abdomen, and connected to the
small intestine. It is posterior in the body, against the
spine, and it is this deep location that at times makes
diagnosis of the disease difficult. The pancreas is essential
to the digestive process in two ways: first, it produces
enzymes that help digest protein, fat and carbohydrates
before they can be |
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| absorbed through the intestine; second, it
makes islands of endocrine cells that produce insulin which
regulate the use and storage of the body's main energy
source, glucose or sugar. |
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