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Role of Insulin in Diabetes

Insulin is a hormone that is produced and secreted by the pancreas. Its job is to assist the body in turning food into energy. Insulin also helps the body to store excess energy that can be used at a later time. When we eat, insulin causes glucose to move from the blood to the body's cells. There, the glucose is used to make protein, fat and sugar. Between meals, insulin helps the body utilize the stored proteins, fats and sugars for energy. Diabetes occurs when insulin is either absent or scarce.

  1. What is Diabetes?

    • Diabetes mellitus, also known as sugar diabetes, occurs when the body is either unable to produce enough insulin or is unable to use the insulin that is produced. The body must have insulin or else the glucose from food is unable to get into the body's cells. Thus, the cells do not work correctly because they are continually deprived of energy.

    Types of Diabetes

    • There are three main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a condition that occurs when the pancreas either does not produce insulin or produces very little insulin. Type 2 diabetes is a condition that occurs when the body develops a resistance to any insulin that is produced or when the body produces insufficient amounts of insulin. Finally, prediabetes is a condition that occurs when blood glucose levels are elevated but not high enough to be considered a symptom of full-blown diabetes. Prediabetes has the potential to become type 2 diabetes if no diet or lifestyle changes are made to address the problem.

    Insulin and Food Intake Balance

    • The process of converting food into energy is a delicate process that requires the proper balance between insulin and food intake along with physical activity. When insulin is off-balance, insulin injections may be needed to achieve homeostasis. The amount of insulin in each injection and the frequency of the injections depends upon many factors, such as what type of insulin is being used (such as rapid-acting or long-acting), your current blood sugar level and any other relevant factors, as determined by a physician.

    Insulin Injections

    • Sometimes the insulin in injections is derived from the pancreases of cows or pigs. It may also be manufactured semi-synthetically or with recombinant DNA. Insulin cannot be ingested orally because the stomach will destroy it. Thus, insulin must always be injected.

    Insulin Reaction

    • Just as too little insulin can be a serious problem, so can too much insulin. Individuals injecting insulin should be careful not to inject too much, and they should also eat regularly to keep their glucose levels steady. Symptoms of an insulin reaction or hypoglycemia include blurry vision, slurred speech, cold sweat, rapid heart rate, nausea, headache, shakiness, nervousness, confusion and fatigue. The quickest ways to treat hypoglycemia are taking a glucose tablet, eating a small snack or drinking some fruit juice.

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