How Insulin Works in Diabetes

In a diabetic condition, body loses the capability to produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes mellitus, a condition where body fails to produce any insulin, makes patients rely on insulin medications (insulin injections, drugs and pumps). The insulin injections enable glucose to be absorbed by the body cells to produce energy required to carry out body processes. Insulin medications work identical to the natural insulin to assure streamlined body mechanisms. On the other hand, body fails to meet required insulin production levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus. As cells don't receive the needed insulin, there remains a need of oral insulin medication to control the blood sugar level. Functions of Insulin

• The basic function of insulin is to keep the blood glucose (sugar) level within a normal range.
• A specific amount of insulin in the bloodstream is essential to supply energy to the tissues.
• The pancreas produce insulin in response to the increasing glucose levels.
• Insulin helps in the digestion of food, which contains sugar and nutrients.
• Insulin manages nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein and fats that influence blood sugar levels.
• Level of insulin also impacts the liver functions, which is primarily responsible to maintain normal blood sugar levels.

Impact of Meals on Insulin Level

• Insulin level alleviates after meals or consuming food, as liver stores sugar in the form of glycogen.
• Insulin levels dips between the meals with digestion of food and release of glycogen by the liver into the bloodstream. This phenomenon ascertains that blood sugar levels remain within a narrow and normal range.
• Most of the health care providers advise insulin shots before bedtime as liver remains active in producing glucose into the bloodstream when at rest.
• Combination of diet plan and adherence to prescribed insulin medication, diabetics can keep restrict the shooting blood sugar (glucose) levels.
• Structuring meal schedule helps in prevention of diabetic complications such as obesity, kidney damage, neuropathy, nephropathy, blindness, heart attack and foot damage.

• Familiarity with insulin working and its management is of great help for diabetics. Owing to this, it becomes easier for them to keep escalating blood sugar levels within a normal range.
• Insulin medications are also given to women with gestational diabetes.
• Insulin pump also helps diabetics manage their blood sugar levels. Instead of getting an insulin injection, insulin pump is handy to match insulin need with the lifestyle.
• A combination of balanced diet, exercise regime and insulin therapy averts diabetic complications.