Insulin

Insulin is essential for obtaining energy from glucose. The deficiency can lead to diabetes, which is treated by giving it by injection.

What is it

Insulin is a hormone that is naturally produced by certain cells in the pancreas, called beta cells, and allows the body’s cells to use glucose in the blood for energy.

For this reason, in a healthy person its production increases near meals. It also tells the liver when it is necessary to produce and release glucose into the blood or, conversely, store it.

However, insufficient production, reduced action or even lack of insulin can lead to the development of diabetes.

To treat this disease it is possible to take, by injection, the insulin necessary to reach and maintain the optimal concentration of glucose in the blood.

When to use

Not all cases of diabetes require insulin. In insulin-dependent diabetes, also called type 1 or juvenile diabetes, the pancreas no longer produces enough hormone to control these functions. In this case, therefore, it is essential to take insulin from the outside one or more times a day.

In type 2 diabetes, insulin production may be normal, but the body’s cells no longer respond properly to its action.

This form of diabetes, which is the most common among the elderly and obese, can be kept under control through a proper diet, appropriate physical activity and the use of hypoglycemic drugs.

In case of diabetes, the diet must take into account the glycemic index of foods and favor foods with a low glycemic index; The following table shows some examples:

Food Glycemic index
Brown rice 50
Crackers 49
Orange jam 48
Egg pasta 46
Orange juice 46
White grapes 46
Oat cookies 45
Mandarins 43
Strawberries 40
Apples 39
Parboiled Rice 38
Kidney beans 37

However, if these measures are not sufficient, it is necessary to resort to the administration of hormone from the outside. This occurs especially in lean diabetics, where the pancreas often struggles to secrete the insulin needed by the body.

In all these cases it is important not to neglect insulin therapy to avoid complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy and diabetic neuropathy, damage to the arteries, heart attacks and strokes in the long Run .

Furthermore, it is necessary to check blood sugar regularly , in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment.

How to use

Insulin therapy is established by the diabetologist on the basis of the clinical characteristics, habits and lifestyle of each patient. Multiple injections per day or the use of different types of insulin may be necessary.

In fact, there are different forms of insulin, which are distinguished by the origin (analogues of human insulin or synthetic human insulins) and by the speed of action (ultra-slow, slow, intermediate, rapid, ultra-rapid and long-acting).

They differ in the moment in which they begin to take effect, the peak of maximum activity and the time they remain in the blood. Currently there are also premixed insulins on the market, containing different concentrations of the rapid and slow forms.

The injection can be performed with disposable syringes or with refillable pens that allow you to perform multiple injections by only changing the needle.

Furthermore, continuous administration is possible through microinfusion pumps (or insulin pumps) equipped with a catheter and a computer-controlled device.

The injections must be made in the subcutaneous layer, i.e. in the fatty tissue between the epidermis and the muscle. The ideal area is the abdomen, in the area around the navel, where the fat is more evenly distributed and where the injection is less painful, but the buttocks, arms and thighs can also be selected.

Warnings

To avoid the formation of lipodystrophies, scar tissue that can affect insulin activity, it is best to alternate injection sites.

Spare packs and pen refills should be stored in the refrigerator, preferably in a compartment that is not too cold, such as a fruit and vegetable compartment.

Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.

The blog covers a wide range of topics related to health and wellness, with articles organized into several categories.

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