Discover the pivotal role of insulin in diabetic care with Meri Sehat. Gain insights for effective management and well-being.

Importance Of Insulin In Diabetic Care

Insulin plays an important role in the management and care of diabetes, a chronic disease that occurs when either the pancreas doesn’t produce sufficient insulin or the body doesn’t use that insulin properly for energy.

Introduction

Nearly 463 million people in the world are diagnosed with <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/diabetes-a-complete-overview">diabetes</a>, out of which nearly 150-200 million people need insulin therapy for their health<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>.

If you have type 1 diabetes, you&rsquo;ll have to inject insulin on a regular basis to use glucose from meals and, basically, to survive. This is because your pancreas is no longer making any insulin or producing an insufficient amount of the hormone.

If you have type 2 diabetes, your body may be producing insulin, but due to the fact that you&rsquo;re overweight or inactive, it may not be utilizing the hormone properly. This is called insulin resistance. You may need insulin shots to help your body control high blood glucose levels or hyperglycemia.

About 5-10% of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes<a href="#accordion">[4]</a>&nbsp;If you have gestational diabetes, you may need to inject insulin as well to manage your blood glucose levels until the baby is born. 
&nbsp;

Understanding the importance of Insulin

Understanding the role of insulin therapy as part of diabetes treatment becomes a whole lot easier when you understand how the hormone typically works and what happens when you get diabetes. 
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>
	<h5>Regulating Blood Sugar Levels</h5>
	</li>
</ul>

When you eat or drink, your body breaks down the carbs into glucose, which is the primary source of energy for your body. This glucose enters the bloodstream, signaling the pancreas to release insulin. Insulin helps the blood sugar to enter the cells where it can be used as an energy source.

It also helps the blood sugar to be stored in the liver as glycogen for later use; in case of low insulin levels between meals, the liver releases this stored sugar, ensuring the blood sugar levels are within a narrow range. 
&nbsp;

As a result, the blood sugar levels in the bloodstream decrease and, accordingly, the insulin levels decrease, too.

The problem arises when there&rsquo;s a lot of blood sugar in the bloodstream. The pancreas either has difficulty keeping up with the rising blood sugar levels or the cells stop responding to all the insulin, which is why you need therapy. 
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>
	<h5>Preventing Diabetic Complications</h5>
	</li>
</ul>

Untreated high blood glucose can lead to various complications. This includes nerve damage, blindness, foot ulcers, kidney damage, heart disease, and stroke. There is lots of insulin in the bloodstream, too, instructing the liver and muscles to take up the excess blood sugar; when their capacity is full, the extra blood sugar is sent to fat cells and is stored as body fat, resulting in weight gain and increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Insulin therapy is crucial to managing blood sugar levels to reduce the risk of developing these life-threatening complications and also to maintain overall better health. 
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>
	<h5>Correcting Insulin Deficiency</h5>
	</li>
</ul>

Your body&rsquo;s immune system may mistakenly destroy the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas if you have type 1 diabetes. This leads to a complete deficiency of insulin. Some individuals with type 2 diabetes struggle when they don&rsquo;t have enough insulin or when other treatment options (e.g., oral medications) are not effective in controlling blood sugar. Insulin treatment supplements or replaces natural insulin with the aim to achieve normal blood glucose levels. 
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>
	<h5>Meal Scheduling</h5>
	</li>
</ul>

A lot of factors, including lifestyle and weight, influence your insulin therapy. Planning meals helps because you can then determine your insulin regimen (insulin pump therapy or multiple injections every day) according to the amount of carbohydrates you consume in a meal. It gives you the liberty to enjoy a varied diet along with better glycemic control. 
&nbsp;

<h5>Other Functions Of Insulin</h5>

Insulin is also involved in<a href="#accordion">[2]</a>:

<ul>
	<li>Modification of enzyme activity and the subsequent reactions in the body</li>
	<li>Management of the synthesis of lipids</li>
	<li>Uptake of potassium and amino acids by cells and regulate DNA replication and synthesis of proteins</li>
	<li>Management of the breakdown of lipids and proteins because of changes in fat cells</li>
	<li>Regulation of the excretion of sodium and fluid volume of urine</li>
	<li>Building muscle post-injury or sickness</li>
	<li>Enhance the memory 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Important!

<ul>
	<li>Starting insulin therapy can be frightening. Consult your doctor to know more about the type of insulin you need. Make sure you know how, when, and where to inject insulin, and also how to rotate your injection sites.</li>
	<li>Always keep a proper record of your insulin dose and your blood glucose levels.</li>
	<li>Insulin should be stored correctly for usage. Extreme (hot and cold) temperatures damage insulin.</li>
	<li>Proper disposal of syringes, lancets, pen needles, and cannulas is important.</li>
	<li>Inform a doctor if you need help adjusting your insulin doses. This change may be due to changes in diet, increased or decreased exercise, illness, medication, weight loss or weight gain, etc.</li>
	<li>Contact a doctor if you have any problems taking insulin or if you notice any side effects. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Conclusion

Insulin is an important hormone that controls how tissues and cells absorb energy. Insulin shots are effective in counteracting the effects of insulin resistance or deficiency. While people with type 1 diabetes have to inject insulin for the rest of their lives, the majority of people with type 2 diabetes may not need it<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>. Regular blood sugar monitoring and close communication with healthcare providers are essential for optimizing insulin therapy and achieving optimal diabetes management. 
&nbsp;

[1] Buse JB, Davies MJ, Frier BM, Philis-Tsimikas A. 100 Years on: The impact of the discovery of insulin on clinical outcomes. BMJ Open Diabetes Research &amp; Care

Trusted By