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Insulin And Diabetes
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Insulin is one of the most popular drugs used in the treatment of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetics. In fact, insulin is a hormone that should be produced naturally by your body. However, if you have Type 1 Diabetes, then your body either does not produce insulin. If you have Type 2 Diabetes your body does not make enough or cannot properly use the insulin that it makes. Learning how insulin works is an important part of understanding how diabetes works. Click here for more information about the biology of Diabetes, or see below for detailed information about the type of insulin you have been prescribed.
In short, insulin helps to break down sugar in the blood
so that the sugar can be stored in the liver and muscles for later use as energy. Insulin also forces the liver to take up fatty acids from the blood, then produce fat (triglycerides) when needed. Plus insulin forces the arterial walls to relax. This action increases blood flow.
When the body does not produce or properly use its own insulin, then:
1. sugar stays in the blood and is never used as energy. An elevated blood sugar level has a toxic and very detrimental effect on the body.
2. Fatty acid levels are high in the blood.
3. The arterial muscles do not relax resulting in high blood pressure.
In a non-diabetic person, insulin is produced in the pancreas by beta cells.
The Pancreas within the Digestive System (just below the stomach)
The pancreas gets a signal when the blood sugar level is high and responds by producing and releasing the proper amount of insulin into the blood. That insulin is designed to move sugar (glucose) into all cells including for energy and making fatty acids. Also it moves sugar (glucose, fructose, and galactose) into muscle and liver cells for storage or immediate use.
There are more than 20 different types of insulin that can be recommended based on a person’s unique diabetic condition and needs (see below). The major differences between the various types of insulin center on: when it starts to work, when the drug reaches its peak and how long the insulin lasts in the body.
When a person does not produce insulin naturally, he or she must take insulin from an external source. Insulin either comes from animals, such as a cows or a pigs, or it is manufactured in a lab. Pig insulin is the closest to human insulin.
There are also a number of different methods of getting insulin into the body, including the use of injections and pumps. Depending on the type and severity of your Diabetes, your doctor will recommend a method that suits your body’s needs best. Here is a brief overview of the most popular methods of getting insulin:
Insulin Pumps
According to the Food and Drug Administration, researchers are currently developing an insulin patch. The FDA has approved inhaled insulin, both of which will make taking insulin easier. See your doctor to discuss the most appropriate methods and types of insulin for you.