“The pancreas is an essential organ. It has two functions: one function is a digestive function, which produces what are called exocrine enzymes, the exocrine function. These digestive enzymes allow us to process and adjust different types of foods, especially essential fats. The other important function of the pancreas is a hormonal function, in which the pancreas produces insulin, typically through the beta islet cells. Now this function is, of course, the most well-known function.The beta islet cells can determine the course of somebody’s diabetes – if they have diabetes or they’re diagnosed with diabetes – or it can actually increase the risk of diabetes if the beta islet cells are not functioning as they should. In type 1 diabetes, for example, these children produce an antibody that attacks the beta cells, and the pancreas loses its ability to function, to produce insulin. In type 2 diabetes, insulin is produced, but the body is relatively resistant to that insulin.”
Make an appointment with Berestrand Williams, MD, FAAP
Berestrand Williams, MD, FAAP is a board certified primary care doctor at Mount Sinai Doctors, seeing patients of all ages Monday – Friday. Trained in Connecticut and Massachusetts, he is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Internal Medicine and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians.
After majoring in Biology and graduating with honors from Harvard University, he was awarded his medical degree from the University of Connecticut’s School of Medicine and completed two residencies – one in Internal Medicine at Boston University’s Boston City Hospital and another in Pediatrics at the combined Boston University School of Medicine – Harvard Pediatric Residency Program.
Prior to joining Mount Sinai Doctors, he practiced at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center for nine years and then served as Chief of Primary Care at Concentra Urgent Care and Family Medicine Center. He has been nationally recognized, receiving the Surgical Scholars Award in 1987 and the AOL Foundation Grant: Franciscan Children’s Hospital in 2001. Dr. Williams is fluent in Spanish.