Insulin is produced by the pancreas. This is a special hormone that is responsible for removing excess sugar from the blood. It is this function that is widely known. But insulin also performs other equally important functions.
Insulin action
Insulin belongs to the category of polypeptide hormones, which are very important for the entire "organic universe" of man. What functions should he perform?
- It delivers amino acids to working cells. The hormone helps “open” the cell so that it can let in glucose, a source of energy.
- Participates in the process of building muscle tissue.
- Thanks to the hormone, potassium and amino acids are also delivered to cells.
Fluctuations in the level of this polypeptide hormone can be accompanied by headache, spontaneous pain in the gastrointestinal tract, drowsiness and constipation. In case of violations of the pancreas, the normal production of insulin is disrupted.
Norma
Low or high levels of insulin in the blood is an alarm signal, you need to understand in timereasons and take the necessary measures to maintain your he alth for years to come.
The norm for the presence of a hormone in the blood is from 5.5 to 10 mcU / ml. This is an average. On an empty stomach, its level is from 3 to 27 mcU / ml. However, in women during pregnancy, the normal hormonal level is slightly higher than 6–27 mcU / ml. This figure is also increased in the elderly.
Need to know: insulin levels are measured only on an empty stomach. After eating, its rate always increases. Such a blood test, when a person ate in the morning, will not be correct. Post-meal insulin levels rise during adolescence. In childhood, there is no such dependence in the production of the hormone.
In the medical environment it is also recognized that the level of 11.5 mcU / ml is already an indicator of a pre-diabetic state. That is, acquired diabetes mellitus develops.
High blood insulin
What will happen to human he alth when insulin is increased? Blood sugar can only be normal temporarily in such a situation. Eating only carbohydrates leads to the fact that the pancreas needs to keep insulin constantly at a high level. But over time, tissues become resistant to the hormone, and the gland depletes its resources. Insulin levels begin to drop.
Glucose while passes into fat layers; glycogen (unused energy) is stored in the liver. Blood sugar levels do not go out of range immediately, in a week or two. This process is slow. Elevated levels of the hormone insulin- this is just as unfavorable as lowered. Over time, a person is threatened with such diseases:
- ischemic heart disease;
- Alzheimer's disease;
- polycystic ovaries in women;
- erectile dysfunction in men;
- hypertension (high blood pressure).
If elevated insulin is detected in the blood, what does it mean? This means that blood clots do not dissolve, blood pressure increases, the elasticity of blood vessels is disturbed, and sodium is retained in the kidneys. That is, the he alth situation is getting worse all the time. According to rough calculations, the risk of myocardial infarction increases in such people by almost 2 times.
Signs of high insulin
It is better to detect insulin resistance as early as possible. Until the body has undergone significant pathological processes. To tell if insulin in the blood is elevated or not, it is enough for a doctor to interview a person and find out if such problems bother him:
- chronic fatigue;
- difficulty concentrating;
- high blood pressure;
- weight increases;
- oily skin;
- dandruff,
- seborrhea.
If more than one of these symptoms are found, a blood glucose test should be taken immediately. And if from time to time the patient is disturbed by bouts of hypoglycemia (a drop in sugar, and a sharp one), then a special diet is prescribed. The sugar level is then maintained mainly with a glucose solution.
Reasons for high insulin. Insulinoma
It is important to know why insulin levels are elevated. The reasons may be different. For example:
- prolonged hunger;
- heavy physical activity;
- pregnancy;
- taking certain medications;
- there is too much glucose-rich food in the diet;
- poor liver function.
However, sometimes the cause is prolonged malnutrition and bringing the nervous system to complete exhaustion. Then you need a long rest and good nutrition in order for the hormone levels to return to normal.
And yet such an anomaly is caused by a neoplasm in the pancreas, which is called insulinoma. In cancer, insulin levels are always elevated. Insulinoma is also accompanied by other, more significant painful symptoms.
- Weakness in muscles.
- Shake.
- Impaired vision.
- Speech impairment.
- Severe headache.
- Convulsions.
- Hunger and cold sweat.
Symptoms appear mainly in the early morning hours. Pancreatic cancer is not curable. The tumor can only be cut out and monitored so that there are no secondary tumors in the brain or liver.
How to lower insulin levels?
But sometimes it happens that increased glucose is detected in the analysis, while blood insulin is quite consistent with normal values. This analysis indicates the imminent occurrence of diabetes. A sedentary, sedentary lifestyle leads to weight gain and metabolic syndrome. Endocrinologists call thema set of pre-diabetic state factors.
The body's resistance to insulin is called insulin resistance. This is the first step towards metabolic syndrome. It is this mechanism that is triggered when too much sugary food is taken and the body gets used to high insulin levels. Then, despite the fact that the pancreas produces more polypeptide hormone, glucose is not absorbed by the body as it should. This leads to obesity. But sometimes this is due to the rejection of fructose for hereditary reasons.
To prevent the process of "blocking" insulin, you need to help the body. Glucose must enter the muscles, the metabolism is activated, and the weight returns to normal. This normalizes the level of sex hormones. That is, you need to go in for sports and switch to he althy food that suits your physique and lifestyle.
Low insulin. Diabetes
Low insulin causes blood sugar to gradually rise. Cells cannot process glucose from food. This situation is very dangerous. An increase in sugar levels is easy to notice. Accompanying a lack of glucose symptoms such as:
- rapid breathing;
- vision deterioration;
- loss of appetite;
- sometimes worried about vomiting and stomach pain.
Very low levels of such an important hormone are characterized by the following factors:
- Feels very hungry.
- Worried about unreasonable anxiety.
- I'm thirsty.
- Temperature rising and sweating.
Violationinsulin production eventually leads to type 1 diabetes.
Such diabetes develops in children and young people often after some diseases. In this case, it is imperative to constantly monitor the level of glucose with a glucometer.
Diabetic neuropathy. Sequelae of diabetes
Because insulin raises blood glucose levels, the nervous system is disrupted over time. After 10 to 15 years of consistently high blood sugar, diabetic neuropathy sets in. It is divided into several types: autonomous, peripheral and focal. Most often, diabetics are accompanied by signs of peripheral neuropathy. They are:
- desensitization or numbness of limbs;
- discoordination;
- off balance;
- tingling, numbness and pain in the limbs (often in the feet).
To prevent further development of neuropathy, you need to constantly donate blood for analysis and monitor sugar levels. Smoking and alcoholic beverages must be avoided.
Of course, the disease also occurs for other reasons - injuries, exposure to toxic substances, other reasons. But almost always, acquired diabetes, which develops slowly and gradually destroys the walls of blood vessels and nervous tissue, is the cause of neuropathy.
Glaucoma and circulatory disorders are also consequences of diabetes. Blood circulation is reducedup to the formation of ulcers on the limbs, followed by amputation.
Diabetes Treatment
According to blood sugar tests, the doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment. In diabetes, the cause of which is precisely the insufficient secretion of the pancreas (type 1), you have to inject insulin 2 times a day. The doctor also prescribes a sucrose-free diet, which must be followed steadily throughout life.
Well, type 2 diabetes is most often the result of stress and an incorrect, sedentary lifestyle, as a result of which insulin in the blood is elevated. This type is called non-insulin dependent diabetes and is treated with certain medications. It is advisable to find any sport to your liking and give moderate physical activity to the muscles. However, the level of insulin also needs to be checked constantly and go to the consultations with the attending endocrinologist.
Proper nutrition for diabetics
The foundation of diabetes treatment is diet. It depends on the level of insulin. If insulin in the blood is elevated, the following recommendations should be followed.
- Dairy products are he althy, but lean.
- Whole grains.
- Low-fat fish.
- Boiled eggs, no more than 3 pcs. for 7 days.
- Meat should be avoided, especially pork that is too fatty.
It is necessary to eat at strictly allotted hours. Then the body will produce all the necessary digestive enzymes in time.
Ait is also important that the portions are small, but you need to eat 5 or even 6 times a day.
We know that insulin raises blood sugar, so for those who suffer from insulin-dependent type of diabetes, the diet is stricter. In such a diet, all calories must be strictly calculated so that there is enough insulin to convert each sucrose molecule into energy.
Life without bad habits is the best prevention
In fact, such a disease as diabetes, there is almost no cure. In rare cases, an improvement in the patient's condition can be observed. In the event that he is constantly under the control of doctors.
But most likely, even with constant control of sugar, the disease will progress and result in either a cancerous tumor, or severe obesity, shortness of breath and a heart attack.
It is best to go for a walk more often, protect your nervous system from unnecessary stress through physical activity and a joyful attitude to life. A moderate diet, without excess fat, without fast foods will prolong your life and save you from many diseases. Not just from insulin imbalances.
