Definition of beta cell
: any of the insulin-secreting pancreatic cells in the islets of Langerhans
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Recent Examples of beta cell from the Web
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Even a small amount of beta cell mass makes a major impact on function.
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And in Type 2, the most common category of diabetes accounting for 90-95 percent of all cases, the body’s cells either stop responding to insulin or the beta cells can’t produce enough of the hormone.
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Type 1 diabetics lose their beta cells through a destructive immune reaction.
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View Sample Sign Up Now Currently, diabetes is classified based mainly on age of diagnosis (younger people often have type 1) and on the presence or absence of antibodies that attack beta cells, which release insulin.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'beta cell.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of beta cell
1915
Medical Dictionary
beta cell
medical Definition of beta cell
: any of various secretory cells distinguished by their basophilic staining characters: as
a
: a pituitary basophil
b
: an insulin-secreting cell of the islets of Langerhans — compare alpha cell
Learn More about beta cell
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about beta cell
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