Insulin: what is it and what types of it exist?
Each of us has heard of such an unpleasanta disease like diabetes, as well as insulin, which is administered to the patient as a substitute therapy. The thing is that insulin patients either do not develop insulin at all or do not fulfill their functions. In our article we will consider the question of what insulin is - what it is and what effect it has on our body. You will find a fascinating journey into the world of medicine.
Insulin is ...
Insulin - what is this from the point of view of medicine? It is a hormone of protein nature that performs extremely important functions in the body. In the gastrointestinal tract from the outside, he can not act, since he will be digested, like any other substance of protein nature. Daily pancreas produces a small amount of background (basal) insulin. After eating, the body supplies it in the amount that our body needs to digest the proteins, fats and carbohydrates that have arrived. Let us dwell on the question of the effect of insulin on the body.
Functions of insulin
Insulin is responsible for maintaining and regulatingcarbohydrate metabolism. That is, this hormone has a complex multi-faceted effect on all tissues of the body, largely due to its activating effect on many enzymes.
One of the main and most well-known functions of thisa hormone - regulation of a level of a glucose in a blood. It is required by the body constantly, because it refers to the nutrients that are needed for the growth and development of cells. Insulin cleaves it to a simpler substance, facilitating its absorption into the blood. If the pancreas produces it in insufficient quantity, glucose does not feed the cells, but accumulates in the blood. This is fraught with an increase in the level of sugar in the blood (hyperglycemia), which entails serious consequences.
Also with the help of insulin, transportation of amino acids and potassium is carried out.
Few people know the anabolic properties of insulin, even surpassing the effect of steroids (the latter, however, are more selective).
Types of insulin
There are types of insulin by origin and by action.
The fast-acting has an ultrashortaction on the body. This type of insulin begins its work immediately after administration, and its peak is reached after 1-1.5. The duration of the action is 3-4 hours. Enter it immediately before or before meals. Drugs with this effect include Novo-Rapid, Insulin Apidra and Insulin Humalog.
Short insulin has an effect after 20-30minutes after application. After 2-3 hours the concentration of the drug in the blood reaches the maximum point. In total, it takes about 5-6 hours. The injection is administered 15-20 minutes before meals. In this case, approximately 2-3 hours after the introduction of insulin is recommended to do "snacks". The time of food intake should coincide with the time of the maximum effect of the drug. Short-acting medications are "Humulin Regul", "Insulin Actrapid", "Monodar Humodar".
Insulin of medium durationaffect the body much longer - from 12 to 16 hours. It is necessary to do 2-3 injections per day, often with an interval of 8-12 hours, since they do not start their action immediately, but 2-3 hours after the injection. Their maximum effect is achieved in 6-8 hours. Insulin of medium duration - preparations "Protafan" (human insulin), "Humudar BR", "Insulin Novomix".
And, finally, long-acting insulin,the maximum concentration of which is achieved 2-3 days after the administration, in spite of the fact that it begins to act in 4-6 hours. Apply it 1-2 times a day. These are such drugs as "Insulin Lantus", "Monodar Long", "Ultralente". This group can also include the so-called "peak-free" insulin. What it is? This insulin, which does not have a pronounced effect, acts gently and unobtrusively, so it practically replaces the "native" person, produced by the pancreas.
Types of insulin
Human insulin - it is an analogue of the hormone produced by our pancreas. Such insulin and its genetically engineered "brothers" are considered more advanced than other types of insulin of animal origin.
Porcine hormone is similar to the above, with the exception of one amino acid in the composition. It is capable of causing allergic reactions.
Insulin cattle is the least similar tohuman. Often causes allergies, because it contains a protein that is foreign to our body. The level of insulin in the blood of a healthy person has strict limitations. Let us consider them in more detail.
What should be the level of insulin in the blood?
On average, a healthy person has normalthe index of insulin in the blood on an empty stomach ranged from 2 to 28 mC / mole. In children, it is somewhat lower - from 3 to 20 units, and in pregnant women, on the contrary, higher - the rate is from 6 to 27 mC / mole. In case of causeless deviation of insulin from the norm (the level of insulin in the blood is raised or lowered), it is recommended to pay attention to your diet and lifestyle.
Increasing the level of the hormone in the blood
Increased insulin leads to lossalmost all of its positive qualities, which negatively affects the state of health. It increases blood pressure, promotes obesity (due to improperly transported glucose), has a carcinogenic effect and increases the risk of diabetes. If you have high insulin, you should pay attention to your diet, trying to consume as many products with a low hypoglycemic index (low-fat dairy products, vegetables, sweet and sour fruit, bread with bran).
Reduced blood insulin
There are cases and when the blood is loweredinsulin. What is it and how to treat it? Excessively low amounts of sugar in the blood lead to brain damage. In this case, it is recommended to pay attention to products that stimulate the pancreas - kefir, fresh blueberries, lean meat, apples, cabbage and parsley roots (the broth is especially effective when taken on an empty stomach).
Due to proper nutrition, you can normalize the level of insulin and avoid complications, in particular, diabetes.
Insulin and diabetes mellitus
There are two types of diabetes - 1 and 2. The first relates to congenital diseases and is characterized by the gradual destruction of beta cells of the pancreas. If they are less than 20%, the body stops coping, and substitution therapy becomes necessary. But when the islands are more than 20%, you may not even notice any changes in your health. Often, short and ultra short insulin, and also background (prolonged) are used in treatment.
The second type of diabetes is acquired. Beta cells with this diagnosis work "on conscience," but the action of insulin is disrupted - it can no longer perform its functions, as a result of which sugar again accumulates in the blood and can cause serious complications, up to the hypoklikemicheskoy coma. For its treatment, drugs are used that help restore the lost function of the hormone.
Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitusinsulin injections are needed, but diabetics of the second type often take drugs for a long time (for years and even decades). However, in due course all the same it is necessary to "sit down" on insulin.
Treatment with insulin helps to get rid ofcomplications that develop when you ignore the body's need to get it from the outside, and also helps reduce the burden on the pancreas and even contribute to the partial restoration of its beta cells.
It is believed that by starting therapy with insulin,return to the drugs (tablets) is no longer possible. However, you will agree, it is better to start earlier to introduce insulin, if it is necessary, than to refuse it - in this case serious complications can not be avoided. Doctors claim that there is a chance in the future to give up injections for type 2 diabetes in the event that insulin treatment was started on time. Therefore, carefully watch your health, do not forget to stick to diets - they are an integral factor of well-being. Remember that diabetes is not a sentence, but a way of life.
New research
Scientists continue to persistently seek a wayto make life easier for people with diabetes. In 2015, the United States presented a new development - a device for inhalation of insulin, which will replace syringes, making the life of diabetics easier. This device can already be purchased at pharmacies in America by prescription.
In the same year (and again in the US) wasso-called "smart insulin", which is introduced into the body once a day, activating independently if necessary. Despite the fact that it has so far been tested only on animals and has not yet been tested in humans, it is obvious that scientists made very important discoveries in early 2015. Let's hope that in the future they will please diabetics with their discoveries.
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