Which disease occurs due to malfunctioning of pancreas?

Appeared in: MNS 2015

Explanation

The pancreas contains Islets of Langerhans, which have beta cells that produce insulin.
Insulin is a hormone essential for regulating blood glucose by helping cells absorb glucose for energy.
A malfunction in the pancreas can lead to insufficient insulin production or ineffective insulin action, causing high blood sugar levels, a condition known as Diabetes Mellitus.
Therefore, diabetes is the disease directly linked to the endocrine malfunction of the pancreas.

Option A: Hypertension (high blood pressure) is primarily a cardiovascular disorder related to blood vessels and kidney function, not a direct result of pancreatic malfunction.
Option C: Cancer is a general term for uncontrolled cell growth and can affect any organ. While pancreatic cancer exists, 'Cancer' is not the specific metabolic disease resulting from the failure of the pancreas's primary endocrine function.
Option D: Obesity is a condition of excess body fat and is a significant risk factor for developing Type 2 Diabetes, rather than being caused by a malfunctioning pancreas.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing The question tests the knowledge of the primary disease associated with the endocrine malfunction of the pancreas helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding the link between the pancreas and diabetes is fundamental for nurses in patient education, especially when explaining the disease process and the rationale for treatment (e.g., insulin injections).
Nurses play a key role in monitoring for signs of pancreatic insufficiency, such as fluctuating blood glucose levels, and managing diabetic care plans.
What if? If a patient undergoes a pancreatectomy (surgical removal of the pancreas), they will develop 'secondary diabetes' because the source of insulin production is removed. The nursing priority would be lifelong insulin replacement therapy and blood glucose monitoring.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key organ in the question: the 'pancreas'.
Recall the primary functions of the pancreas, particularly its endocrine role in producing hormones.
Remember that the most well-known hormone from the pancreas is insulin, which regulates blood sugar.
Connect the 'malfunctioning' of this organ to the disease caused by insulin deficiency or resistance.
Evaluate the options: 'Diabetes' is the direct metabolic disease resulting from this specific malfunction. The other options are either unrelated, complications, or risk factors.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: The question tests the knowledge of the primary disease associated with the endocrine malfunction of the pancreas.
Stem keywords: disease, malfunctioning, pancreas
Lead-in keywords: Which

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E6 Physiology Essentials Sembulingam 10e Part 2 p. 69-71

E6 Nutrition Kumud Khanna 2e p. 327-329

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Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.