Insulin - why our body needs it. The functional role of insulin in the body

We move, our body functions continuously (even when we sleep), which means that we continuously expend energy. Energy replenishment is carried out at cellular level: blood constantly delivers oxygen to cells and nutrients, one of which is a very important one! -is . If we liken our cells to a gasoline engine in which fuel is constantly burned (so that the car moves), then glucose is precisely the gasoline that powers our biological engine.

However, remember that gasoline enters a car engine using a rather complex system - a carburetor, which injects portions of fuel into the combustion chamber. If there is no carburetor, gasoline will not get into the chamber, and if the carburetor is faulty, it may get in, but not in the quantity needed. Exactly the same vicissitudes occur with glucose carried in the blood: its molecules by themselves are not able to penetrate the motor cell. The role of the carburetor - not mechanical, but chemical - in in this case plays insulin.

This situation can also be described this way. Imagine a cell as a kind of closed volume, equipped with a certain number of door passages. Glucose molecules are concentrated around this volume, which could get inside if the doors were open - but the doors are locked. Insulin molecules are precisely the key that unlocks the cell doors to glucose molecules. Let us remember that insulin, together with glucose, is transported in the blood; This means that in the usual case (i.e. healthy person) insulin near the cell is enough to unlock the doors to glucose.

What happens in another situation, when there is little or no insulin? Let's describe this picture as follows: stage 1 - we absorb food; stage 2 - complex carbohydrates, which enter the stomach as part of food, are processed into monosaccharides, mainly into glucose; stage 3 - glucose is absorbed through intestinal wall into the blood and spreads throughout the body, but does not enter cells without insulin (with rare exceptions). As a result, firstly, the cells begin to starve, and, secondly, the blood sugar level rises above the permissible level - a condition occurs.

The first circumstance leads to weight loss, then to dystrophy, gradual decline and, strictly speaking, to starvation. But death from starvation is a protracted process, taking several weeks and in this case not threatening the patient; he will die sooner diabetic coma caused by the second circumstance - hyperglycemia, an excess of ketone bodies. This process will be described in more detail in Chapter 11, but for now let’s look at what an abnormally high level of blood sugar.

A disclaimer was made a little higher: glucose does not enter cells without insulin (with rare exceptions). This exception is the so-called insulin-independent tissues, which take sugar from the blood regardless of the presence of insulin, and if there is too much sugar, then these tissues absorb it in excess. What kind of fabric is this?

First of all, the brain nerve endings And nerve cells. With elevated blood sugar levels, the first sensation is heaviness in the head, fatigue, fast fatiguability, attention disorder. Then - the lens of the eye; it becomes cloudy, and it seems that there is a haze before the eyes.

High blood sugar is a major symptom of diabetes and the main problem diabetics. Elevated blood glucose levels are practically the only cause of diabetes complications. To effectively take control of your disease, it is advisable to have a good understanding of where glucose comes from in the bloodstream and how it is used.

Read the article carefully and find out how blood sugar regulation occurs normally and what changes when carbohydrate metabolism is disturbed, i.e., when you have diabetes.

Food sources of glucose are carbohydrates and proteins. The fats we eat have absolutely no effect on our blood sugar levels. Why do people like the taste of sugar and sweet foods so much? Because it stimulates the production of neurotransmitters in the brain (especially serotonin), which reduce anxiety, cause a feeling of well-being, and even euphoria. Because of this, some people develop an addiction to carbohydrates that is as powerful as an addiction to tobacco, alcohol or drugs. People dependent on carbohydrates experience reduced level serotonin or reduced sensitivity of receptors to it.

How does insulin work?

Insulin is a means to transport glucose - fuel - from the blood into cells. Insulin activates the action of “glucose transporters” in cells. These are special proteins that move from the inside to the outer semi-permeable cell membrane, capture glucose molecules, and then move them to internal “power plants” for combustion.

Glucose enters the liver and muscle cells under the influence of insulin, as does all other tissues of the body, except the brain. But it is not burned there immediately, but is stored in reserve in the form glycogen. This is a substance similar to starch. If there is no insulin, then the glucose transporters work very weakly, and the cells do not absorb enough of it to maintain their vital functions. This applies to all tissues except the brain, which consumes glucose without the participation of insulin.

Another effect of insulin in the body is that under its influence fat cells take glucose from the blood and convert it into saturated fats, which accumulate. Insulin is the main hormone that stimulates obesity and prevents you from losing weight. The conversion of glucose into fat is one of the mechanisms by which insulin lowers blood sugar levels.

If the blood sugar level drops below normal and the reserves of carbohydrates (glycogen) are already exhausted, then the process of converting proteins into glucose starts in the cells of the liver, kidneys and intestines. This process is called “gluconeogenesis,” and it is very slow and inefficient. At the same time, the human body is not able to convert glucose back into proteins. We also do not know how to convert fat into glucose.

In healthy people, and even in most patients with type 2 diabetes, the pancreas produces small amounts of insulin all the time in a fasting state. Thus, at least some insulin is constantly present in the body. This is called “basal”, i.e. “base” concentration of insulin in the blood. It signals the liver, kidneys and intestines that it is no longer necessary to convert proteins into glucose in order to increase blood sugar levels. The basal concentration of insulin in the blood “inhibits” gluconeogenesis, i.e., prevents it.

Blood sugar standards - official and real

In healthy people without diabetes, blood glucose concentrations are carefully maintained within a very narrow range of 3.9 to 5.3 mmol/L. If you take a blood test at random times, regardless of meals, from a healthy person, your blood sugar will be about 4.7 mmol/l. This is the figure we need to strive for in diabetes, i.e. blood sugar after meals is no higher than 5.3 mmol/l.

Traditional blood sugar standards are too high. They lead to the development of diabetes complications within 10-20 years. Even in healthy people, after a meal rich in quickly digestible carbohydrates, blood sugar can jump to 8-9 mmol/l. But if you don’t have diabetes, then after eating it will drop to normal within a few minutes, and you won’t need to do anything about it. If you have diabetes, “playing tricks” with the body by feeding it refined carbohydrates is strictly not recommended.

In medical and popular science books on diabetes, “normal” blood sugar levels are considered to be 3.3 - 6.6 mmol/l and even up to 7.8 mmol/l. In healthy people without diabetes, blood sugar never rises to 7.8 mmol/l, unless you eat a lot of carbohydrates, and then in such situations it drops very quickly. Official medical blood sugar guidelines are used to ensure that the “average” doctor does not have to stress too much when diagnosing and treating diabetes.

If a patient’s blood sugar after a meal jumps to 7.8 mmol/l, then this is not officially considered diabetes. Such a patient will most likely be sent home without any treatment, with instructions to try to lose weight on a low-calorie diet and eat healthy food, i.e. eat more fruits. However, complications of diabetes develop even in people whose post-meal sugar does not exceed 6.6 mmol/l. Of course, this does not happen so quickly. But within 10-20 years it is possible to develop kidney failure or vision problems. Read also ““ for more details.

How is blood sugar regulated in a healthy person?

Let's look at how insulin regulates blood sugar in a healthy person without diabetes. Let's say this person is a disciplined breakfast eater, and for breakfast he has mashed potatoes with a cutlet - a mixture of carbohydrates and proteins. Throughout the night, the basal concentration of insulin in his blood inhibited gluconeogenesis (read above what this means) and maintained a stable blood sugar concentration.

As soon as the food high content carbohydrates enter the mouth, salivary enzymes immediately begin to decompose “complex” carbohydrates into simple glucose molecules, and this glucose is instantly absorbed into the blood through the mucous membrane. Carbohydrates immediately raise blood sugar levels, even though the person hasn’t even swallowed anything yet! This is a signal to the pancreas that it is time to urgently release a large amount of insulin granules into the blood. This powerful dose of insulin was pre-produced and stored to be used when needed to cover a post-meal sugar spike, in addition to the basal concentration of insulin in the blood.

The sudden release of stored insulin into the bloodstream is called the “first phase of the insulin response.” It quickly reduces the initial spike in blood sugar that carbohydrates cause and can prevent further spikes in blood sugar. The stored insulin in the pancreas is depleted. If necessary, it produces additional insulin, but this takes time. The insulin that slowly enters the bloodstream in the next step is called the “second phase insulin response.” This insulin helps to absorb glucose, which appears later, after a few hours, during the digestion of protein foods.

As the meal is digested, glucose continues to enter the blood, and the pancreas produces additional insulin to “neutralize” it. Some of the glucose is converted into glycogen, a starchy substance that is stored in muscle and liver cells. After some time, all the “containers” for storing glycogen are filled. If there is still excess glucose in the bloodstream, insulin converts it into saturated fats, which are stored in fat cells.

Later, our hero's blood sugar levels may begin to drop. In this case, the alpha cells of the pancreas will begin to produce another hormone - glucagon. It acts as an insulin antagonist and signals muscle and liver cells to convert glycogen back into glucose. With the help of this glucose, you can maintain your blood sugar at a stable level. During your next meal, glycogen stores will be replenished again.

The described mechanism of glucose absorption with the help of insulin works perfectly in healthy people, helping to maintain blood sugar at a stable, normal level - from 3.9 to 5.3 mmol/l. The cells receive enough glucose to perform their functions and everything functions as intended. Let's look at why and how this pattern is disrupted in type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

What happens in type 1 diabetes

Let's imagine that in our hero's place there is a person with type 1 diabetes. Let’s say that at night before going to bed he received an injection of “extended-release” insulin and thanks to this he woke up with normal blood sugar. But if you do not take action, then after a while his blood sugar will begin to rise, even if he does not eat anything. This happens because the liver constantly takes insulin from the blood little by little and breaks it down. At the same time, for some reason, in the morning hours the liver “utilizes” insulin especially intensively.

Extended insulin, which was injected in the evening, is released smoothly and steadily. But the speed of its release is not enough to cover the increased morning “appetite” of the liver. Because of this Blood sugar may rise in the morning even if a person with type 1 diabetes does not eat anything. This is called the “dawn phenomenon”. The pancreas of a healthy person easily produces enough insulin so that this phenomenon does not affect blood sugar. But with type 1 diabetes, attention must be paid to “neutralize” it. Read how to do this.

Human saliva contains powerful enzymes that quickly break down complex carbohydrates into glucose, and it is instantly absorbed into the blood. In a diabetic, the activity of these enzymes is the same as in a healthy person. Therefore, dietary carbohydrates cause a sharp jump in blood sugar. In type 1 diabetes, the beta cells of the pancreas produce little or no insulin. Therefore, there is no insulin to orchestrate the first phase of the insulin response.

If there was no injection of “short” insulin before meals, then blood sugar will rise very high. Glucose will not be converted into glycogen or fat. In the end, in best case scenario, excess glucose will be filtered by the kidneys and excreted in the urine. Until this happens, increased level blood sugar will cause enormous damage to all organs and blood vessels. At the same time, the cells continue to “starve” without receiving nutrition. Therefore, without insulin injections, a patient with type 1 diabetes dies within a few days or weeks.

Treatment of type 1 diabetes with insulin

Why is a low-carb diet needed for diabetes? Why limit yourself in your choice of products? Why not just inject enough insulin to absorb all the carbohydrates you eat? Because insulin injections do not properly cover the increase in blood sugar that carbohydrate-rich foods cause.

Let's figure out what problems usually arise in patients with type 1 diabetes and how to properly control the disease to avoid complications. It's vital important information! Today, it will be the “discovery of America” for domestic endocrinologists and, especially, for patients with diabetes. Without false modesty, you are very lucky that you came to our site.

Insulin administered through a syringe, or even through an insulin pump, works differently than the insulin normally produced by the pancreas. Human insulin, in the first phase of the insulin response, immediately enters the bloodstream and immediately begins to lower sugar levels. For diabetes, insulin injections are usually given subcutaneously fatty tissue. Some patients who love risk and excitement master intramuscular injections insulin (don't do this!). No one injects themselves with insulin intravenously anyway.

As a result, even the fastest insulin begins to act only after 20 minutes. And its full effect appears within 1-2 hours. Until then, blood sugar levels remain significantly elevated. You can easily verify this by measuring your blood sugar with a glucometer every 15 minutes after eating. This situation causes damage to nerves, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, etc. Complications of diabetes develop full swing, despite the best intentions of the doctor and the patient.

Why standard treatment type 1 diabetes with insulin is not very effective, described in detail at the link ““. If you have type 1 diabetes, you follow a traditional “balanced” diet, then the sad ending - death or disability - is inevitable, and it comes much faster than you would like. Let us emphasize once again that even if you switch to , this still will not help. Because it also injects insulin into the subcutaneous tissue.

What to do? The answer is to switch to diabetes control. On this diet, the body partially converts food proteins into glucose, and thus blood sugar still rises. But this happens very slowly, and an insulin injection allows you to carefully “cover” the increase. As a result, it can be ensured that after eating a diabetic patient’s blood sugar will not at any moment exceed 5.3 mmol/l, i.e. it will be absolutely the same as that of healthy people.

Low-carbohydrate diet for type 1 diabetes

The fewer carbohydrates a diabetic eats, the less insulin he needs. On a low-carbohydrate diet, insulin doses immediately drop several times. And this is despite the fact that when calculating the dose of insulin before meals, we take into account how much it will be needed to cover the proteins eaten. Although when traditional therapy Diabetes proteins are not taken into account at all.

The less insulin a diabetic needs to inject, the lower the likelihood of the following problems:

• hypoglycemia - critical low sugar in blood;
• fluid retention in the body and swelling;
• development of insulin resistance.

Let's imagine that our hero, a patient with type 1 diabetes, switched to eating low-carbohydrate foods from. As a result, his blood sugar will not jump to “cosmic” heights at all, as it did before when he ate a “balanced” diet, rich in carbohydrates. Gluconeogenesis is the conversion of proteins into glucose. This process raises blood sugar, but slowly and slightly, and can easily be “covered up” by injecting a small dose of insulin before meals.

How does the body work in a person with type 2 diabetes?

Our next hero is a patient with type 2 diabetes, weighing 112 kg when the norm is 78 kg. Majority excess fat he has it on his stomach and around his waist. His pancreas is still producing insulin. But since obesity has caused severe diabetes, this insulin is not enough to maintain normal blood sugar.

If the patient manages to lose weight, then insulin resistance will go away and blood sugar will normalize so much that the diagnosis of diabetes can be removed. On the other hand, if our hero does not urgently change his lifestyle, the beta cells of his pancreas will “burn out” completely, and he will develop irreversible type 1 diabetes. True, few people live to see this - usually patients with type 2 diabetes are killed earlier by a heart attack, renal failure or gangrene on the legs.

Insulin resistance is caused in part genetic reasons, but mainly it occurs due to an incorrect lifestyle. Sedentary work and excessive consumption of carbohydrates lead to the accumulation of adipose tissue. And the more fat in the body in relation to muscle mass, the higher the insulin resistance. The pancreas has been working under increased stress for many years. Because of this, she is exhausted, and the insulin she produces is no longer enough to maintain normal sugar in blood. In particular, the pancreas of a person with type 2 diabetes does not store any insulin reserves. Because of this, the first phase of the insulin response is disrupted.

Interestingly, overweight patients with type 2 diabetes usually produce no less insulin, but on the contrary, 2-3 times more than their slender peers. In such a situation, endocrinologists often prescribe tablets - sulfonylurea derivatives - which stimulate the pancreas to produce even more insulin. This causes the pancreas to burn out, causing type 2 diabetes to become insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes.

Blood sugar after meals in type 2 diabetes

Let's consider how a breakfast of mashed potatoes with a cutlet, i.e., a mixture of carbohydrates and proteins, will affect our hero's blood sugar levels. Usually on initial stages In type 2 diabetes, fasting blood sugar levels in the morning are normal. I wonder how it will change after eating? Let's take into account that our hero can boast of an excellent appetite. He eats 2-3 times more food than slender people of the same height.

We have already discussed how carbohydrates are digested, absorbed in the mouth and immediately increase blood sugar. In a patient with type 2 diabetes, carbohydrates are absorbed in the same way in the mouth and cause a sharp jump in blood sugar. In response, the pancreas releases insulin into the blood, trying to immediately extinguish this surge. But since there are no ready reserves, an extremely small amount of insulin is released. It is called .

Our hero's pancreas tries its best to produce enough insulin and lower blood sugar. Sooner or later, she will succeed if type 2 diabetes has not yet gone too far and the second phase of insulin secretion has not been affected. But for several hours, blood sugar will remain elevated, and during this time complications of diabetes develop.

Due to insulin resistance, the typical type 2 diabetic requires 2-3 times more insulin to metabolize the same amount of carbohydrates than their lean counterparts. This phenomenon has two consequences. First, insulin is the main hormone that stimulates fat storage in adipose tissue. Under the influence of excess insulin, the patient becomes even fatter, and his insulin resistance increases. This vicious circle. Secondly, the pancreas works under increased load, which is why its beta cells burn out more and more. Thus, type 2 diabetes turns into type 1 diabetes.

Insulin resistance causes cells to be unable to use the glucose that a diabetic gets from food. Because of this, he continues to feel hungry even after he has already eaten a significant amount of food. Typically, a person with type 2 diabetes eats too much until his stomach feels full, and this further increases his problems. Read how to treat insulin resistance. This real way improve your health with type 2 diabetes.

Diagnosis and complications of type 2 diabetes

To confirm or refute the diagnosis of diabetes, illiterate doctors often prescribe a fasting blood sugar test. Let us remember that in type 2 diabetes, fasting blood sugar levels remain normal for a long time, even if the disease progresses and diabetes complications develop in full swing. Therefore, a fasting blood sugar test is absolutely not suitable! Take it or, preferably, in an independent private laboratory.

Let’s say a person’s blood sugar after eating jumps to 7.8 mmol/l. Many doctors in such a situation do not write a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, so as not to register the patient and not engage in treatment. They justify their decision by the fact that the diabetic still produces enough insulin, and sooner or later his blood sugar after eating drops to normal. However, you need to immediately switch to healthy image life, even when your blood sugar after a meal is 6.6 mmol/l, and even more so if it is higher. We strive to provide an effective and, most importantly, realistic treatment plan for type 1 and type 2 diabetes that can be followed by people with significant work pressures.

The main problem with type 2 diabetes is that the body gradually breaks down over decades, and this usually does not cause painful symptoms until it is too late. On the other hand, a person suffering from type 2 diabetes has many advantages over someone suffering from type 1 diabetes. His blood sugar will never rise as high as a person with type 1 diabetes if he misses an insulin shot. If the second phase of the insulin response is not too affected, then blood sugar may, without the active participation of the patient, itself drop to normal a few hours after eating. A patient with type 1 diabetes should not expect such a “freebie”.

How to effectively treat type 2 diabetes

For type 2 diabetes, intensive therapeutic measures will lead to the fact that the load on the pancreas will decrease, the process of “burning out” of its beta cells will slow down.

What do we have to do:

• Read. It also describes how to treat it.
• Make sure you have an accurate glucose meter () and measure your blood sugar several times a day.
• Pay special attention to measuring your blood sugar after meals, but also on an empty stomach.
• Go to .
• Get busy. Physical activity vital.
• If diet and exercise are not enough and your sugar is still elevated, take it too.
• If everything together - diet, exercise and Siofor - does not help enough, then add insulin injections. Read the article ““. First they prescribe extended insulin at night and/or in the morning, and if necessary also short insulin before eating.
• If you need insulin injections, draw up an insulin therapy regimen with your endocrinologist. At the same time, do not give up on a low-carbohydrate diet, no matter what your doctor says.
• In most cases, Only those patients with type 2 diabetes who are too lazy to exercise have to inject insulin.

As a result of losing weight and exercising with pleasure, insulin resistance will decrease. If treatment is started on time, it will be possible to lower blood sugar to normal without insulin injections. If insulin injections are still required, the doses will be small. The end result is healthy happy life without complications of diabetes, to a ripe old age, to the envy of “healthy” peers.

When faced with diabetes, a person often begins to hear from doctors various terms associated with this disease. One such definition is the hormone insulin. The body needs it to maintain stable level Sahara. The hormone neutralizes excess glucose in the body, converts it into glycogen and sends it for storage in adipose tissue, muscles and liver. If its production is impaired, there is a risk of diabetes. To understand the characteristics of the disease, it is important to know which organ produces insulin and how to compensate for its deficiency.

What is insulin and why is it needed?

Insulin is the only hormone that can lower blood glucose levels. It is produced in the pancreas. The amount of hormone released depends on the glucose level in the blood. If its level becomes higher, then insulin production also increases, and if the sugar content is lower, it decreases. The cause of disruption of this process is mainly diabetes.

The main signs of the disease are:

• Glycosuria – the appearance of sugar in the urine;
• Hyperglycemia – increased blood glucose levels;
• Polyuria – frequent urination;
• Polydipsia - increased thirst.

Lack of timely diabetes treatment and replenishment of insulin deficiency can lead to serious complications. Excess insulin disrupts the process of providing the brain with energy and can cause a state of hypoglycemic coma (a decrease in blood sugar below normal).

The role of insulin

The amount of insulin and its activity are an important condition proper operation the whole body. The hormone helps lower blood sugar levels and redistribute glucose contained in cells. Insulin affects fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism.

Main functions:

• Prevents the formation of ketone bodies;
• Promotes the synthesis of the polysaccharide “glycogen”, as well as fatty acids in the liver;
• Stimulates the conversion (synthesis) of “glycerol” in adipose tissue;
• Helps absorb amino acids and synthesize “glycogen” as well as protein in muscles;
• Suppresses glycogen breakdown;
• Suppresses the synthesis of glucose, which constitutes the internal reserve in the body;
• Promotes the breakdown of protein accumulated in muscles;
• Enhances glucose utilization;
• Regulates fat metabolism and enhances the process of lipogenesis.

The organ responsible for insulin secretion is the pancreas. She is in abdominal cavity and is located behind the stomach.

The gland consists of the following parts:

• Head;
• Body – the main part of the organ;
• Tail.

The gland contains cells whose main function is to produce insulin. Clusters of these cells are called pancreatic islets, which are mainly located in the tail of the organ. Their second definition is the islets of Langerhans, named after the pathologist from Germany who discovered them. These cells secrete hormones responsible for regulating metabolic processes (fat, protein and carbohydrate).

The cells that fill the pancreatic islets are of the following types:

1. A cells - produce glucagon.
2. Beta cells are the type that produces insulin. These cells make up the bulk of all gland cells.
3. G cells – produce gastrin.
4. PP cells - produce pancreatic polypeptide in non- large quantities, which weakens the effect of cholecystokinin.

Functions of Beta Cells

Beta cells produce two categories of insulin:

• Active;
• Inactive. It's called proinsulin.

Features of insulin formation:

• Both categories of hormone, after synthesis by Beta cells, are further processed in the Golgi complex (zone of accumulation educated products exchange);
• In this structure, cleavage of the C-peptide occurs under the action of enzymes;
• The hormone “insulin” is formed;
• Insulin is stored in secretory granules, in which its further accumulation occurs.

The hormone is released by Beta cells when it is needed. This occurs when the amount of glucose in the blood increases. If a large amount of carbohydrates enters the human body with food, then Beta cells begin to deplete under constant load. Most often, this condition occurs in older people, when a hormone deficiency appears and the risk of developing diabetes increases.

How does insulin work?

Neutralization of glucose by insulin occurs in several stages:

1. First, permeability increases cell membrane, after which increased sugar absorption begins.
2. Glucose is converted by insulin into glycogen. It is subsequently deposited in the muscles and also in the liver.
3. There is a decrease in the concentration of glucose in the blood.

If the process of glucose breakdown goes through all stages, and there is a sufficient amount of insulin for this, then an increase in blood sugar is not observed. This state is important to achieve for patients with diabetes.

When is insulin therapy necessary?

In diabetes mellitus, the condition of patients is characterized by a lack of their own insulin, so therapy for the disease is based on the use special drugs containing this hormone. This treatment regimen is necessary for patients with type 1 diabetes.

The insulin therapy method is based on the administration of appropriate dosages of specific brands of insulin that are suitable for the human body. The drugs differ from each other in dosage regimens, number of injections and combination of several hormone options. Insulin can be given with special syringes, pumps, or pens. Pumps are the most effective way delivery of the hormone to the body. The exact treatment regimen and the possibility of using the necessary devices for its implementation are determined by the endocrinologist.

Insulin is a hormone that is responsible for human health. It is important to exclude factors that can cause depletion of hormone reserves. This will reduce the risk of diabetes.

More materials:

The article was viewed 1,951 times

In the human body, everything is thought out to the smallest detail. Each organ or system is responsible for certain processes. By disrupting the operation of one of them, you can say goodbye to feeling good. Of course, many of us have heard about hormones as certain substances that are produced by certain glands. They are different in their own way chemical composition, but they also have general properties- be responsible for the metabolism in the human body, and therefore for its good functioning.

Insulin is a hormone of which gland?

It should immediately be noted that all processes occurring in any organ are a very complex, but nevertheless interconnected system.

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, or more precisely, by formations located in its very depths. In medicine they are also called islets of Langerhans-Sobolev. By the way, note that insulin is a hormone that affects almost all functions in the human body. It belongs to the peptide series and is created to qualitatively saturate all cells of the body necessary substances. Insulin is capable of transporting potassium, various amino acids, and most importantly, glucose through the blood. The latter is responsible for the balance of carbohydrates. The scheme is this: you eat food, the level of glucose in the body increases, therefore, the level of insulin in the blood increases. We often hear in medicine about such a substance as insulin. Everyone immediately associates it with diabetes. But to answer a simple question: “Insulin is a hormone of what, an organ or a tissue? Or maybe it is produced by the whole system?” - not every person can.

Insulin (hormone) - functions in the human body

Think about it, the action of the hormone insulin is to provide normal nutrition all cells of the body. It is primarily responsible for establishing the balance of carbohydrates in the human body. But when the pancreas malfunctions, protein and fat metabolism simultaneously suffer. Keep in mind that insulin is a protein hormone, which means it can enter the human stomach from the outside, but it will be quickly digested there and not absorbed at all. The action of the hormone insulin is to influence most enzymes. But its main task, according to scientists and doctors, is the timely reduction of glucose in the blood. Doctors often prescribe a special test that will clearly reveal whether the patient’s insulin hormone is elevated or not. Thus, it is possible to determine whether the patient’s ailments are associated with incipient diabetes mellitus or with another disease. Of course, you can live with such a diagnosis, the main thing is to detect it in time and begin supportive therapy.

Medical standards for insulin

Any indicator has a certain scale of values ​​by which one can judge the patient’s condition. If we say that insulin is a pancreatic hormone, it is worth understanding that after each meal it can be increased. Therefore, there are some standards for taking tests. You must not eat 1.5 hours before or come for the study strictly on an empty stomach.

Then there is high probability reliable result. The most basic thing that the doctor is trying to understand is whether the patient has diabetes, and if other problems arise, prescribe appropriate additional research and medicines. Let us immediately note that each medical laboratory or the institution is able to indicate its individual values ​​of the indicator under study, which will ultimately be considered normal. In principle, the hormone insulin, the norm of which on an empty stomach will average 3-28 µU/ml, may also vary slightly. Therefore, when receiving analysis results, try not to panic, but rather visit a competent specialist to decipher them. For example, pregnant women have indicators that differ from other people (on average 6-28 µU/ml). When the doctor suspects it, it makes sense to already mention its two main types:

The hormone insulin is reduced - the pancreas cannot cope with its job and produces it in insufficient quantities - type 1 diabetes;

The hormone insulin is elevated - the opposite situation is when there is a lot of the corresponding substance in the body, but it does not feel it and produces even more - type 2 diabetes.

Does insulin affect human growth?

Nowadays, it may be easy to obtain various drugs to increase muscle and bone tissue. This is usually practiced by athletes who need to short time gain weight and make your body more prominent. I would like to immediately note that insulin and growth hormone are closely interrelated. How this happens is difficult to figure out, but possible. Growth hormone is a drug belonging to the peptide series. It is he who is able to cause accelerated development of muscles and tissues. Its action is as follows: it has a powerful effect on muscle growth, while burning large amounts of fat. Of course, this cannot but affect carbohydrate metabolism in organism. The mechanism is simple: growth hormone directly increases blood glucose levels. At the same time, the pancreas, which is functioning normally, begins to work harder, producing insulin in large quantities. But if you use this drug in uncontrolled doses, the organ described above cannot cope with the load, accordingly, glucose in the blood increases, and this is fraught with the appearance of a disease called diabetes. Remember one simple formula:

Low blood sugar - growth hormone enters the body in large quantities;

High level blood sugar - insulin is produced in large quantities.

Growth hormone - the course and its dosage should be prescribed to athletes only by experienced trainers or doctors. Because overuse of this product may entail horrible consequences for further health. Many are inclined to believe that when injecting yourself with growth hormone, you should definitely help the functioning of your own pancreas, using appropriate doses of insulin.

A woman and a man - are their insulin levels the same?

Naturally, many tests directly depend on the gender and age category of the patient.

It has already become clear that the pancreatic hormone (insulin) is responsible for controlling blood glucose levels. Therefore, in order to evaluate the work of this body, it will be enough to donate blood for sugar. This study is carried out by taking strictly on an empty stomach. Remember the following indicators by which you can assess whether the hormone insulin is produced in sufficient quantities in your body. The norm for women and men is the same: the concentration of glucose in the blood will be 3.3-5.5 mmol/l. If it is in the range of 5.6-6.6 mmol/l, then it would be advisable to follow a special diet and conduct additional research. This is the so-called borderline state, when it is still pointless to talk about diabetes. You need to start worrying already if the blood glucose level is close to 6.7 mmol/l. In this case, doctors advise taking the following test - glucose tolerance. Here are slightly different numbers:

7.7 mmol/l and below is normal;

7.8-11.1 mmol/l - disturbances in the operation of the system are already observed;

Above 11.1 mmol/l - the doctor can talk about diabetes mellitus.

From the results described above, it becomes clear that insulin levels are approximately the same in women and men, i.e. gender has no effect on this. But pregnant ladies should remember that in their interesting position There are specific deviations from current standards. This often occurs because the pancreas does not produce enough of the hormone insulin, and blood sugar rises. Usually everything is regulated special diet, but sometimes doctors in this case talk about diabetes in pregnant women. Children are still a separate category, since in their early age due to underdevelopment nervous system and the lack of active functioning of all organs, the level of glucose in the blood may be reduced. But its increase (5.5-6.1 mmol/l) also needs to be dealt with in more detail, because this may be due to a violation of the rules for taking the test itself.

What is glucagon?

So, from the above it follows that insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. But, in addition to this, this organ is responsible for the production of other substances, such as glucagon and C-peptide. We are very interested in the functions of the first of them. After all, in fact, they are directly opposite to the work of insulin. Accordingly, it becomes clear what increases blood sugar levels. Thus, these substances maintain the glucose level in a neutral state. It is worth noting that the hormones insulin and glucagon are substances that are produced by just one of many organs human body. In addition to them, there are still a huge number of tissues and systems that do the same thing. And these hormones are not always enough for good blood sugar levels.

Increased insulin - what does it mean?

Of course, not always an increase this indicator will definitely lead to diabetes.

One of the most common consequences can be obesity, and only then disease in the blood. Often doctors and nutritionists, in order to explain to their patients the simple mechanism of formation excess weight, begin their story by answering a simple question: “Insulin is a hormone of which gland?” After all, people who eat large quantities of food (for example, flour and sweet dishes) do not think about the load their pancreas experiences at the same time. Of course, you can eat these foods, but in moderate portions, then the whole system works organically. In general, with this diet, the following happens: insulin increases constantly (i.e., this process becomes chronic form), but sugar enters the body in unlimited quantities, and in the end it is simply stored in fat. And remember that in this case the appetite is greatly increased. Vicious circle, from which it will be very difficult for you to get out, is ensured: you eat a lot of unhealthy food and densely - insulin is increased - fat is deposited - appetite increases - again we eat in unlimited quantities. It is best to contact specialists in a timely manner who will prescribe appropriate diets and all the necessary tests.

Diabetes

This terrible disease, which became the so-called plague of the 20th century. And not only because of the large number of sick people, but also because of the reasons for its appearance and the decreasing age of patients. Now diabetes mellitus can occur not only in an elderly person, who is, in principle, prone to this disease due to the deterioration of the functioning of all his organs, but also in young children. Scientists around the world are trying to find the answer to this difficult question. After all, it turns out that a child with diabetes must maintain normal level insulin. Reveal this disease not difficult, an experienced doctor It’s worth ordering a few simple tests. First, blood is tested for sugar and it is determined whether it is elevated. At positive result They already act as follows: they conduct a glucose tolerance test and make an appropriate diagnosis. When diabetes is confirmed, the doctor needs to understand how much of the hormone being studied is specifically lacking in your body. To do this, you should take an insulin test. Here you need to understand that there are only two types of diabetes:

1st: insulin is reduced, while blood glucose is correspondingly increased. As a result, urination increases and sugar is found in the urine;

2nd: an increase in insulin is observed. Why is this happening? There is also glucose in the blood, insulin is produced, but the body’s sensitivity to it decreases, i.e., it doesn’t seem to see it. In this case, there is a sense of purpose special research, such as a blood test for immunoreactive insulin.

Since insulin is a hormone of the pancreas, it would be logical to believe that in the case of diabetes mellitus, the doctor will also prescribe drugs for normal functioning of this body. But the body will also need insulin coming from outside. Therefore you need to purchase necessary medications. By the way, when the diagnosis is made and you need to independently measure the level of glucose in your blood at home every day, it would be advisable to purchase a device known to everyone - a glucometer. It allows you to easily find out the required value in a few seconds. Using disposable needles, you make a small puncture on your finger and collect the blood with a test strip. You insert it into the glucometer and the result is ready. Usually it turns out to be reliable.

What drugs contain insulin?

It’s worth mentioning right away that all medications containing insulin should be prescribed strictly by your attending physician; there should be no self-medication, its consequences are too dangerous. A person who has diabetes simply needs insulin (hormone) supplied from outside.

The functions of the pancreas, which cannot cope with its work on its own, must be constantly maintained. How to understand how much insulin a particular patient will need? This figure is measured in special carbohydrate units. Simply put, you count how many carbohydrates are in each food, and, accordingly, understand how much insulin you will have to inject to lower blood sugar. Of course, there are various analogues of drugs containing insulin. For example, when we're talking about about a reduced hormone, when in fact the pancreas cannot cope with its work, it is worth resorting to medications that can activate its activity (for example, the drug “Butamide”). In principle, we can say that this is not purely insulin introduced into your body, but only a substance that in one way or another will help the body recognize this hormone produced by its own corresponding organ. Anyone who has ever encountered the problem of diabetes understands perfectly well that currently all drugs aimed at combating it are produced in the form of injections for injections. Naturally, scientists all over the world are puzzling over how to make this procedure easier and find a medicine in another form (for example, tablets). But so far to no avail. In principle, for those who are accustomed to daily procedures of this type, they already seem absolutely painless. Even children can make such an injection under their skin on their own. Typically, the administered insulin begins to work on average after half an hour, and it will be concentrated in the blood at its maximum after about 3 hours. The duration of its work is about 6 hours. Those who have already been definitely diagnosed with diabetes need to give themselves such injections three times a day: in the morning (necessarily on an empty stomach), at noon, and in the evening. Of course, the effect of administered insulin sometimes needs to be prolonged (in medical language this is called prolongation). It can be done this procedure using the following suspensions: zinc-insulin (duration 10-36 hours), protamine-zinc-insulin (24-36 hours). They are administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly.

Is it possible to overdose on insulin?

We know that in dosage form insulin is a hormone. What you cannot do with it for sure is to prescribe or cancel its administration yourself.

If a situation occurs when there is too much insulin in the blood - this is the so-called overdose or hypoglycemia - the situation should be urgently corrected. First of all, you must clearly understand what is happening to the person: he may suddenly want to eat heavily, begin to sweat and get irritated, show inexplicable aggression, or even faint. The worst thing in this case is when convulsions inevitably occur and the activity of the heart is disrupted. Mandatory actions in this situation:

You need to replenish your blood sugar reserves, that is, eat something containing it: a lump of sugar, a sweet cookie or a slice of regular white bread- this is done when the very first symptoms appear;

When the situation is absolutely critical and shock is imminent, you need to urgently administer an intravenous glucose solution (40%).

Be sure to monitor how your body generally behaves in response to the use of insulin injections. After all, each of us is individual. Some may experience severe allergic reaction, manifested not only at the injection site in the form of a red spot, but throughout the body (urticaria or dermatitis). Be careful, contact your doctor immediately, he may simply replace your existing drug with insulin. Under no circumstances should you do this yourself, otherwise a sudden lack of insulin can lead to coma and death.

Insulin is a hormone responsible for your health. Remember that anyone can develop diabetes. Sometimes this is directly related to the abuse of sweet and starchy foods. Some people are unable to control themselves in such matters and eat large amounts of carbohydrates every day. Thus, their body lives in constant stress, trying to independently produce more and more insulin. And now, when he is completely exhausted, this disease occurs.