Diabetes Insulin

Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not manufacture sufficient amounts of insulin or does not properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that is necessary for the transport of sugar from the blood stream into the cells for use as energy.

Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas – an organ which apart from producing juices that help in digestion of food , also produces certain hormones which have wide ranging effects on body metabolism.

Insulin is used as a treatment for people who have Type I diabetes, otherwise also known as Juvenile Diabetes. it is also used for those people who have Type II diabetes, but have not been able to control it by use of other drugs, or due to other factors.

In conditions like Diabetes Mellitus (DM) there is decreased/absent insulin production ( type 1 ) or decreased sensitivity of cells to glucose (type 2 ) , resulting in elevated blood glucose levels that have deleterious effects on the body.

Various herbs, foods, vitamins, and minerals have been shown to promote insulin sensitivity and help maintain proper blood sugar levels.

Exercise also increases insulin sensitivity. People involved in athletics are known to require less insulin. Besides improving insulin sensitivity, exercise helps us to control our weight and reduce body fat. Weight control is a very important aspect in maintaining insulin sensitivity.

There are three methods of using insulin, and each of it has its own characteristic; This is based on the onset, peak time, and the duration of the action of the insulin. Onset is the period taken by the insulin to reach the bloodstream, when not injected, and begins its activity. Peak time is period when the insulin is at maximum strength in the bloodstream, and duration is how long the insulin continues its work in reducing blood glucose level. It is particularly important to understand this process as it would be used differently for different patients.

Insulin is injected into the subcutaneous layer of the skin. There are various sites on the body where it can be administered this way. These will be described subsequently. Methods include using syringes for each dose or an insulin pump which administers doses throughout the day.

Insulin syringes and needles come in different sizes. The amount of your insulin dose determines the size of the syringe that you will need to use. If you are taking 30 units or less, a 3/10 cc (30 unit) syringe will work. If you are taking 31 to 50 units, 1/2 cc syringe (50 unit) will be needed. If your dose is 51 units or more, a 1 cc (100 unit) syringe will be necessary. The needle sizes vary for each syringe size. Syringes may be purchased from a pharmacy.

The  scientific community came up with an insulin pump. A catheter is inserted into the patient’s body at a convenient place, and insulin is pumped into the blood stream or the body through a pump. It is more convenient and also more effective. Using the pump, insulin can be given in three different ways. The Basal form of insulin is infused into the blood continuously. This is much more effective than injections as it is a catheter that remains under the skin and separates the insulin into three different types of insulin. Basal insulin is injected continuously. Bolus doses are administered to act on the carbohydrates consumed in food.

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