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beta cells

   Also found in: Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
beta cells,
1 insulin-producing cells situated in the islets of Langerhans. Their insulin-producing function tends to accelerate the movement of glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids out of the blood and into the cellular cytoplasm, countering glucagon function of alpha cells.
2 the basophilic cells of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.

beta cells,
n See cells, beta.


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Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body's immune system kills pancreatic beta cells, which make the hormone insulin that controls blood glucose.
Right now in some patients who are newly diagnosed with Type 1, we know there are some beta cells still alive that, over time, will be destroyed.
GLP-1 stimulates pancreatic beta cells to increase the secretion of insulin, so GLP-1 has the potential to improve beta cell function itself.
 
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