Each of us has heard about such an unpleasant disease as diabetes mellitus, as well as about insulin, which is administered to patients as replacement therapy. The thing is that in patients with diabetes, insulin is either not produced at all, or does not perform its functions. In our article we will consider the question of insulin - what it is and what effect it has on our body. An exciting journey into the world of medicine awaits you.
Insulin is…
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It is produced by special endocrine cells called the islets of Langerhans (beta cells). The pancreas of an adult has about a million islets, whose function is to produce insulin.
Insulin - what is it in terms of medicine? It is a hormone of protein nature that performs extremely important necessary functions in the body. It does not enter the gastrointestinal tract from the outsidemaybe, because it will be digested, like any other substance of a protein nature. The pancreas produces a small amount of background (basal) insulin daily. After eating, the body supplies it in the amount that our body needs to digest the incoming proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Let's dwell on the question of what is the effect of insulin on the body.
Functions of insulin
Insulin is responsible for maintaining and regulating carbohydrate metabolism. That is, this hormone has a complex multifaceted effect on all tissues of the body, largely due to its activating effect on many enzymes.
One of the main and best known functions of this hormone is to regulate blood glucose levels. It is required by the body constantly, because it refers to the nutrients that are needed for the growth and development of cells. Insulin breaks it down to a simpler substance, facilitating its absorption into the blood. If the pancreas does not produce enough glucose, glucose does not feed the cells, but accumulates in the blood. This can lead to high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), with serious consequences.
Insulin also transports amino acids and potassium. Few people know the anabolic properties of insulin, surpassing even the effect of steroids (the latter, however, act more selectively).
Types of insulin
Distinguish types of insulin by origin and action.
Fast acting renders ultrashortaction on the body. This type of insulin begins its work immediately after administration, and its peak is reached after 1-1.5 hours. The duration of action is 3-4 hours. It is administered immediately before or before a meal. Drugs with a similar effect include Novo-Rapid, Insulin Apidra and Insulin Humalog.
Short insulin takes effect within 20-30 minutes after application. After 2-3 hours, the concentration of the drug in the blood reaches its maximum point. In total, it lasts about 5-6 hours. An injection is given 15-20 minutes before meals. In this case, approximately 2-3 hours after the introduction of insulin, it is recommended to do "snacks". The time of eating should coincide with the time of maximum effect of the drug. Short-acting drugs - preparations "Humulin Regula", "Insulin Aktrapid", "Monodar Humodar".
Intermediate-acting insulins take much longer to act on the body, from 12 to 16 hours. It is necessary to make 2-3 injections per day, often with an interval of 8-12 hours, since they do not begin their action immediately, but 2-3 hours after the injection. Their maximum effect is achieved after 6-8 hours. Intermediate-acting insulins - Protafan (human insulin), Humudar BR, Insulin Novomix.
And finally, long-acting insulin, the maximum concentration of which is reached 2-3 days after administration, despite the fact that it begins to act after 4-6 hours. Apply it 1-2 times a day. These aredrugs like Insulin Lantus, Monodar Long, Ultralente. This group can also include the so-called "peakless" insulin. What it is? This is insulin, which does not have a pronounced effect, acts gently and unobtrusively, therefore it practically replaces the “native” insulin produced by the pancreas.
Varieties of insulins
Human insulin - is an analogue of a hormone produced by our pancreas. Such insulin and its genetically engineered "brothers" are considered more advanced than other types of animal-derived insulin.
Pork hormone is similar to the above, except for one amino acid in the composition. May cause allergic reactions.
Bovine insulin is the least similar to human insulin. Often causes allergies, as it contains a protein alien to our body. The level of insulin in the blood of a he althy person has strict limits. Let's take a closer look at them.
What should be the level of insulin in the blood?
On average, in a he althy person, a normal fasting insulin level ranges from 2 to 28 mcU/mol. In children, it is slightly lower - from 3 to 20 units, and in pregnant women, on the contrary, it is higher - the norm is from 6 to 27 μU / mol. In the event of an unreasonable insulin deviation from the norm (insulin levels in the blood are increased or decreased), it is recommended to pay attention to your diet and lifestyle.
Increased blood hormone levels
Increased insulin entails the loss of almost all of its positive qualities, which negatively affects the state of he alth. It raises blood pressure, contributes to obesity (due to improperly transported glucose), has a carcinogenic effect and increases the risk of diabetes. If you have high insulin, you should pay attention to your diet, trying to eat as many foods with a low hypoglycemic index as possible (low-fat dairy products, vegetables, sweet and sour fruits, bran bread).
Low blood insulin
There are cases when insulin is low in the blood. What is it and how to treat? An excessively low amount of sugar in the blood leads to brain disorders. In this case, it is recommended to pay attention to foods that stimulate the pancreas - kefir, fresh blueberries, boiled lean meat, apples, cabbage and parsley roots (the decoction is especially effective when taken on an empty stomach).
Through proper nutrition, you can normalize insulin levels and avoid complications, in particular diabetes.
Insulin and diabetes
There are two types of diabetes - 1 and 2. The first refers to congenital diseases and is characterized by the gradual destruction of pancreatic beta cells. If they remain less than 20%, the body ceases to cope, and replacement therapy becomes necessary for it. But when the islets are more than 20%, you may not even notice any changes in yourhe alth. Often, short and ultrashort insulin, as well as background (extended) insulin are used in the treatment.
The second type of diabetes is acquired. Beta cells with this diagnosis work "in good faith", but the action of insulin is impaired - it can no longer perform its functions, as a result of which sugar again accumulates in the blood and can cause serious complications, up to hypoglycemic coma. To treat it, drugs are used that help restore the lost function of the hormone.
Patients with type 1 diabetes urgently need insulin injections, but type 2 diabetics often manage for a long time (years and even decades) with drugs. True, over time, you still have to “sit down” on insulin.
Treatment with insulin helps to get rid of the complications that develop when the body's need to receive it from the outside is ignored, and also helps to reduce the load on the pancreas and even contribute to the partial restoration of its beta cells.
It is believed that, having started insulin therapy, it is no longer possible to return to drugs (pills). However, you must agree, it is better to start injecting insulin earlier, if necessary, than to refuse it - in this case, serious complications cannot be avoided. Doctors say that there is a chance in the future to refuse injections for type 2 diabetes if insulin treatment was started on time. Therefore, carefully monitor your well-being, do not forget to stick to diets - they are an integral factorgood he alth. Remember that diabetes is not a death sentence, but a way of life.
New Research
Scientists continue to persistently look for a way to make life easier for patients with diabetes. In 2015, the United States introduced a new development - an insulin inhalation device that will replace syringes, making life easier for diabetics. This device is already available in US pharmacies by prescription.
In the same year (and again in the USA) the so-called "smart insulin" was introduced, which is injected into the body once a day, activating itself if necessary. Despite the fact that it has only been tested on animals so far and has not yet been tested on humans, it is clear that scientists made very important discoveries in early 2015. Let's hope that in the future they will delight diabetics with their discoveries.
