The pancreas can be destroyed by various factors, including autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes.
Autoimmune Diseases
- Type 1 Diabetes:
- The immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the beta cells in the pancreas. These beta cells are responsible for producing insulin.
- Without insulin production, the body cannot regulate blood sugar levels, leading to diabetes and, ultimately, pancreatic destruction due to the autoimmune attack. According to the provided reference, "Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. It occurs only when the immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells in the pancreas so that they can no longer produce insulin."
