If you live with insulin-dependent diabetes, whether you are type 1, type 2, Mody, LADA, or pregnancy, you know that this condition requires the administration of exogenous insulin for survival.
But what does insulin actually do? Why don’t you have insulin tablets? Why can’t you drink it? What is the mechanism of behavior and how does it work?
This article explains what insulin does when you take those injections every day.
What is insulin?
Insulin is a hormone produced by beta cells in the pancreas. Your body needs to turn food into energy and control blood sugar levels.
All humans have insulin in their bodies, but people with diabetes don’t produce insulin, don’t produce it well, and cannot use it properly (insulin resistance).
Insulin is thought to be the main anabolic hormone in the body, and its main function is to promote the absorption of glucose from the bloodstream into the cells (muscle and fat) of the body.
If the body does not produce insulin (or lacks sufficient insulin), a diagnosis of diabetes is made.
Why do you need insulin?
Insulin is necessary to carry glucose from the bloodstream to cells (and is stored in excess as fat) to fuel energy. This energy is necessary for the body and brain to function.
Glucose comes from foods that are mostly rich in carbohydrates, such as bread, potatoes and fruits, but if you are lacking in carbohydrates, glucose can also be created from fats and proteins through a process called gluconon formation.
In the absence of insulin in humans, cells cannot metabolize glucose, staying in the bloodstream, leading to hyperglycemia levels.
This has been tested by a commercially available glucometer or by an HBA1C test that measures the average blood glucose level over the past three months. You can do this yourself with the Home HBA1C test.
Uncontrolled hyperglycemia can quickly lead to diabetic ketosidosis (DKA). This is a dangerous condition in which the blood flow in the body is very high, making the blood in the body acidic. It can be fatal if not treated properly (and quickly!).
If the cells are starved for glucose, the following typical symptoms of diabetes and/or DKA are set up:
- Weight loss
- Extreme thirst
- Extreme hunger
- Frequent urination
- Haze
- A fruity smelly breath
- Extreme fatigue
- Body pain
- Loss of consciousness/death
If you have experienced these symptoms without relieving for several days, seek emergency medical attention or call 911. These can be early symptoms of diabetes and require immediate and specialized medical care.
What does insulin do?
Pancreatic beta cells sense when blood glucose levels are rising or falling, and in response releases insulin into the bloodstream.
If someone eats an apple, but the beta cells feel that a person’s blood sugar level is low, then someone’s blood sugar level is high and eating the same apple, they won’t release that much insulin.
These microtitrations occur every day, without most humans realizing that their body is performing these functions!
However, in people with diabetes, this whole process must occur externally. People should count carbohydrates, constantly check their blood sugar levels, and measure and administer insulin accordingly.
When insulin moves from the bloodstream to the cells, blood sugar levels (the amount of glucose in the bloodstream) return to normal.
However, for people with diabetes, taking too much insulin can lead to hypoglycemia or risking hypoglycemia.
Taking insulin if you have diabetes is a nearly constant tightrope walk between hyperglycemia (hyperglycemia) and avoiding hypoglycemia.
In people without diabetes, normal fasting blood glucose levels are below 99 mg/dL. If you have diabetes, your ideal blood sugar level will depend on your lifestyle, age, activity level, stage of life, and health goals and will be determined by you and your doctor.
How often do people with diabetes take insulin?
Insulin-dependent diabetic patients need insulin 24/7 and take it every day.
Unlike most oral medications that can be taken once a day, people with insulin-dependent diabetes must take insulin for most of the foods and drinks they eat.
They take what is called insulin (bolus insulin), which acts rapidly in most diets. Rapidly acting insulin usually stays in the bloodstream for 2-5 hours (depending on the brand and the body’s response to it).
Diabetic patients using insulin pumps rely solely on rapid action insulin in which the insulin pump releases very small amounts of insulin, mimicking the human pancreas 24/7.
For more information about pump insulin, please see here. Insulin for pump: What are the options?
If a person with diabetes doesn’t want or can’t wear an insulin pump, multiple daily injections (MDIs) can be chosen. This is where they take both long-acting, rapid insulin.
Long-acting insulin (basal insulin) is usually given once or twice a day (this type of insulin is maintained in the bloodstream for much longer and metabolized slightly at a time).
Not only does food increase blood sugar levels, you also need long-acting insulin (if someone is not using an insulin pump). Insulin is a necessary hormone in life, and even if you haven’t eaten anything in a day, you still need minimal insulin to live.
Side effects of insulin
The main side effects of insulin are also best known: hypoglycemia! Here are some signs you are taking too much insulin and suffering from hypoglycemia:
- Shakakkes
- confusion
- sweating
- Rapid Heartbeat
- Pale skin
- Loss of consciousness
- In extreme cases, seizures
In rare cases, someone will not experience redness, swelling, or burning at the injection site. This can be a sign of an allergic reaction.
More serious allergic reactions can include nausea and vomiting. If you are experiencing it while taking insulin, you should contact your doctor immediately.
You can learn more about the side effects of insulin in our guide Side effects of insulin: Things you need to know.
summary
Living with insulin-dependent diabetes requires exogenously administered (usually injected) insulin. This helps maintain blood sugar levels and prevents them from reaching dangerously high levels.
Insulin is a hormone produced by beta cells in the pancreas and promotes glucose movement from the bloodstream, including the liver and adipocytes, into the cells of the body.
In people without diabetes, beta cells sense blood glucose levels and automatically release a certain amount of insulin into the bloodstream, maintaining blood glucose homeostasis.
In people with diabetes, they need to count carbohydrates eaten, test blood glucose levels, and measure and administer insulin manually daily to prevent illness and death and maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Keeping your blood sugar levels in a good range can prevent the development of complications of diabetes.
In addition to insulin, people with diabetes need to manage their diet and exercise regularly to help them maintain their blood sugar levels.
Always consult your doctor to find the most effective combination of prescription medications, lifestyle changes, and insulin therapy to achieve your health goals.
