Do islet cells hold promise in treating diabetes? Islet cells are groupings of hormone-secreting cells in the pancreas that are responsible for several endocrine functions including the production of insulin. Pancreatic islets contain four different types of cells including: insulin-producing beta cells, glucagon-releasing alpha cells, somatostatin-producing delta cells and cells that contain polypeptides (PP cells). Each individual islet contains approximately 1,000 of these four types of cells.

An 11-year-old boy presents to the clinic with a chief complaint of multiple bumps on his right leg and foot. He reports the lesions have been present for almost two months and appear to be increasing in number and size. The boy did not see his pediatrician or family physician for this condition.