Insulin.
Insulin is an essential hormone which controls the blood glucose  level and it is produced in the pancreas gland. Insulin helps glucose to be used for energy release.
In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Therefore, insulin must be taken in by injections or other insulin devices.
In type 2 diabetes, pancreas usually produces plenty of insulin at least at the early stages. In this case, the problem is nor the lack of the hormone in the blood but the inability of the cells to use insulin properly and transform glucose to energy.
The main aftermaths of this situation are two. First, the blood glucose level rises with all the damaging diabetes complications to follow. Second, the pancreas, being in an insulin abundance situation, gets constant nerve signals not to produce any more of the hormone. Eventually, within a few years the production stops and the insulin must be provided by technical means.
Insulin cannot be taken as a pill because it is a protein and if it was taken orally, the body would break it down and digest it before the hormone manages to get into the blood stream.
The side-effects of excessive amounts of insulin are hypoglycemia and weight gain.
Frequency of insulin intake.
Most patients with diabetes need at least two insulin injections a day for effective blood glucose control. Some people take three or four shots of lower dose, during the day. This aims to keep blood glucose in a more stable level without significant fluctuations.
Regular insulin alone or in combination with longer-acting insulin should be taken fifteen to thirty minutes before a meal. Rapid-acting insulin must be taken just before meal time.
Types of insulin.
A lot of people combine two types of insulin. Each of them works at different speed. Apart from the type, the speed depends on the injected area, the person's physical fitness and the interval of time between the injection and any exercise session preceded.
Medical preparations of insulin are rarely just insulin water-solutions. Clinical products are specially prepared mixtures of insulin plus other substances. The latest delay absorption of the insulin and adjust the pH of the solution to reduce reactions at the injection site.
Recent products from the major suppliers, such as Aventis and Eli Lilly, include the so-called insulin analog versions. In these preparations, the insulin molecules are slightly modified so they can be absorbed either rapidly enough to mimic real beta cell insulin or steadily after injection. In the first case, a peak occurs, followed by a rapid decline of insulin action, whereas the second option provides gradual insulin supply and more stable action. The Eli Lilly's version is the Insulin Humalog, the Aventis' one is the Insulin Glargine and the Insulin Detemir is the Novo Nordisk's version.
The type, dose and the frequency of the insulin intake must be determined by an experienced medical professional and should be followed faithfully on behalf of the patient.
About Exubera. Recently, a combined effort on behalf of Aventis and Pfizer has resulted in the development of a revolutionary product, called “Exubera”. This is an inhaler, containing short-acting insulin, and it seems to be effective in both types of diabetes.
Try the following link, in order to be guided how to find Exubera online.
Where insulin to be injected.
Insulin is absorbed fast, if injected into the subcutaneous tissue between the skin and the muscle in the abdominal area. The absorption is moderate, if the hormone is delivered into the arm and low, when injected into the thigh.
Storage of insulin.
Insulin brakes down in extreme temperatures. Thus, it should never be kept or left in a freezer or a car's clove compartment, when the weather is hot. A bottle of insulin can be kept in room temperature, providing it is intended to be consumed within maximum a month's time. Otherwise, the bottle must be kept in the fridge.
It is strongly recommended extra insulin to be stored in a fridge all the time. |
