The pancreas is an organ in the body that releases enzymes for digestion and produces hormones, such as insulin, which convert food into energy.
Although diabetes can be treated with insulin therapy, it's a serious and usually irreversible condition. Diabetes can cause permanent damage to the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves.
People can have iron overload and have no symptoms. Other people may mistake the signs and symptoms of iron overload for other conditions. For this reason, people with iron overload often don't know they have it until they have serious health problems.
If you've had or are having blood transfusions, be sure to ask your doctor about iron overload and how it may affect your pancreas. A simple blood test called the serum ferritin test can tell your doctor how much iron is in your body. If your serum ferritin level continues to be over 1000 mcg/L (micrograms per liter), you have iron overload and should talk with your doctor about treatment options.
