Contents:
- Medical Video: The Role of Insulin in the Human Body
- The function of insulin for the body and how it works
- What happens if the function of insulin in the body is disrupted?
- How type 1 diabetes develops
- How type 2 diabetes develops
- The function of injecting insulin for diabetic patients
- Low sensitivity to insulin
- Beta cell failure
Medical Video: The Role of Insulin in the Human Body
Insulin plays an important role in the body to convert sugar (glucose) from carbohydrates that you consume into energy and store glucose for future use. Maintaining insulin function is very important to control the body's sugar levels so that it does not jump too high (hyperglycemia) or falls too low (hypoglycemia).
The function of insulin for the body and how it works
Insulin is a hormone that functions to convert sugar into energy. Every cell in the body needs sugar to work. However, cells cannot directly convert sugar into energy. Therefore, when you eat and your blood sugar levels increase, the pancreas signals to release insulin into the bloodstream. The insulin hormone helps cells absorb glucose from the bloodstream by attaching themselves to cells and signals cells to absorb sugar.
Insulin also helps store sugar in the liver (liver) when blood sugar levels are too little. This is because the function of insulin is to ensure that sugar levels remain within the normal range. If for some reason the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or your cells are immune to insulin, you may experience long-term complications of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.
What happens if the function of insulin in the body is disrupted?
The most common condition of the problem with insulin is diabetes. There are two types of diabetes, namely type 1 and type 2. Although both types of diabetes are characterized by high blood sugar levels, the causes and development of each case are different. It is not always clear what type of diabetes a person has. To get a definite diagnosis, you certainly should consult an endocrine specialist.
How type 1 diabetes develops
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy parts of the body. In the case of type 1 diabetes, the immune system targets the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas until the pancreas cannot produce insulin.
There is no clear scientific explanation for the cause of this condition. Type 1 diabetes requires insulin injections to compensate for the death of beta cells, so people with type 1 diabetes are very dependent on insulin by doctors.
How type 2 diabetes develops
In type 2 diabetes, the autoimmune system does not attack beta cells. However, type 2 diabetes is characterized by the inability of the body to respond to insulin. The condition is also known as insulin resistance. The body compensates for this disorder by producing more insulin. Unfortunately, the body is not always able to produce enough insulin.
Over time, the pressure on beta cells due to high demands for producing insulin can actually damage beta cells so that insulin production decreases.
The function of injecting insulin for diabetic patients
In type 1 diabetes, insulin cannot be produced because the pancreas is damaged. As a result, they will need an injection of insulin so that the body processes glucose and avoids complications from sugar levels high (hyperglycemia).
In type 2 diabetes, cells are immune to insulin. Patients may need to get insulin injections, usually for the following reasons:
Low sensitivity to insulin
Pay attention to your weight. Being overweight will further weaken the body's sensitivity to insulin. Not sensitive to insulin means that insulin will not convert blood glucose into energy. People with low insulin sensitivity often need to be injected with insulin to avoid a surge in blood sugar.
Beta cell failure
If you have insulin resistance, you need more insulin to keep blood glucose levels stable. Excessive insulin production means the pancreas is working harder. As a result, over time the pancreas is forced to work hard and will stop producing insulin.
In the end you can experience a similar situation like someone with type 1 diabetes, where your body cannot produce the amount of insulin you need to maintain blood sugar levels. Insulin injections are needed for this condition.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
