One of the most common diseases which affects the pancreas is insulin dependent diabetes, or type I diabetes. Type I diabetes is the result of an autoimmune attack on the islet cells which produce insulin. The resultant lack of insulin leads to excess blood sugar levels in the blood and a variety of health problems, including visual disturbances (diabetic retinopathy), heart disease, nerve disorders (diabetic neuropathy), and kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy). To control their blood sugar, diabetic patients must take insulin injections everyday.
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