All About Insulin - Importance & Types Of Insulin

By Author: Jessica Cristina
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Your search to have more information on diabetes and all about insulin uses and dosage end here. However, before that let’s first understand what is diabetes and how insulin is considered to be a very crucial catalyst in controlling blood sugar levels for diabetic patients.

Importance of insulin

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic health conditions affecting millions of people around the world. It mainly occurs when the pancreas is not able to produce or enough or optimally manage insulin for the body to function at its best.

Insulin is nothing but a specific hormone that looks after the transportation of glucose to various parts of the body. Glucose (derived from the food we eat) needs to be reached to each and every cell of our body.

In the absence of insulin, when the glucose is not able to move throughout the body, it gets accumulated in the blood. Too much accumulation of glucose in the body results in increased blood glucose levels. This condition is categorized as diabetes mellitus.

Types of Diabetes

Based on its occurrences, ...
... causes, and symptoms, diabetes can be classified into type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Once any of the types of diabetes has been diagnosed, effective and regular diabetes care becomes of utmost importance.

In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells present in the pancreas. As a result, insulin production is severely affected and the organ is not able to produce enough insulin for thorough movement of glucose in the body.

Whereas, type 2 diabetes takes place when the cells are not able to utilize blood glucose efficiently to produce energy. When this happens, the cells become insulin resistant, gradually resulting in high blood glucose levels.

Gestational diabetes is a high blood glucose condition that only affects pregnant women and disappears right after the birth of the child. It can happen at any stage of pregnancy but usually strikes in the second or third trimester.

Treatment for diabetes, Unfortunately, there is no proper cure or treatment available for diabetes, except for external insulin intake. People living with diabetes have to rely on insulin for the rest of their lives.

Also known as basal insulin, insulin not only controls blood sugar levels but also ensures that all the cells are supplied with enough glucose for the body to work optimally. Basal insulin dosing depends upon the patient’s health, medical history, recovery speed, and other factors better known to the medical professionals.

Insulin is categorized as rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, long-acting, and premixed. A rapid-acting insulin is very fast to act, while short-acting takes a bit longer to be effective. Meanwhile, intermediate insulin lasts longer than rapid and short-acting but is shorter in counteracting than the long-acting insulin.

Long-acting insulin is active throughout the day and reduces fasting blood glucose levels. On the other hand, premixed insulin is a combination of rapid-acting or short-acting insulin along with long-acting insulin.

Insulin can be injected into the body using insulin injections or pumps. To know how to inject insulin properly, consult your doctor for pain-free injection experience.