How does somatostatin affect insulin and glucagon secretion in the pancreas?

In the pancreas, somatostatin is produced by the delta cells located within the islets of Langerhans. Its primary function in this context is to act as a potent inhibitor, effectively blocking the secretion of both insulin and glucagon from the adjacent beta and alpha cells, respectively.12

Because these cells are in close anatomic proximity, somatostatin exerts a paracrine effect, meaning it influences the activity of neighboring cells to help regulate the flow of nutrients into and out of the circulatory system. By inhibiting these hormones, somatostatin plays a critical role in controlling the rates at which the body absorbs, utilizes, and stores glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids.1