What is insulin? Role, side effects and attention when using insulin

Insulin is an extremely familiar substance, especially for people with diabetes or people with family members with diabetes. So what is the role, side effect, note when using insulin under the guidance of the Ministry of Health? Please refer to the following article.

1. What is insulin?

Insulin is a hormone from pancreatic islet cells in the pancreas . They work to metabolize carbohydrates in the body. Insulin also works to convert fat and liver tissue into ATP energy to supply the body's activity.

Insulin is also the only agent in the body that can lower blood glucose levels.

Insulin is synthesized in the pancreatic beta cells by the activity of the protein synthesis machinery in the cell. Insulin is also the only agent in the body that can lower blood glucose levels.

2. The role of insulin

After we eat a meal, a large amount of starch will enter the body, which will increase the stimulation to beta cells in the pancreatic island to be able to secrete insulin. Then, insulin will affect the processes of storing and storing glucose in the body and especially the liver and adipose tissue.

When your blood glucose level is high, glucose is stored in the form of glycogen and stored in the liver and when you are hungry, the blood glucose level decreases, the glycogen will be converted back to glucose to continue in the blood. , ensure blood sugar.

1. Insulin inhibits enzyme phosphorylase, making the process of converting glycogen into glucose slow;
2. Insulin enhances glucose absorption;
3. Insulin enhances enzyme activity to synthesize glycogen.

Insulin greatly affects blood sugar levels. Diabetes is caused by high blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone that inhibits the metabolism of glycogen into glucose and enters the blood, if insulin deficiency, glycogen will not stop metabolizing and bringing excess amount of glucose into the blood causing diabetes.

Insulin in the body.

3. Insulin types and precautions when using

According to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health, for diabetics, insulin is an important drug in the treatment of this disease. There are four main types of insulin: fast, short-acting insulin, moderate, intermediate, slow-acting, long-acting insulin, and finally, insulin-mixed, mixed.

1. Short and quick acting insulin types are usually injected directly under the skin, the drug dissociates quickly into monomer and is absorbed. After about 1 hour the drug will reach its peak absorption. Due to the rapid effect of this type of insulin, patients need to be very careful about the amount of carbohydrate in the meal.
2. For moderate-acting insulin the drug will last longer by a combination of 2 soluble insulin zinc components with protamine zinc Insulin. This drug after being administered subcutaneously will begin to work after 2-4 hours, peaking after 6-7 hours and lasts about 10-20 hours. This drug needs to be injected twice a day to be effective.
3. Long-acting and prolonged insulin types are usually used in the evening. This type also has many different drugs depending on each patient.
4. Mixed insulin is a type of pre-mixed insulin 2 types of fast acting and long acting insulin in the same type or the same injection. Therefore, the drug will have two effects, one is the effect of fast insulin on the amount of carbohydrate in the meal and the effect of long insulin to make the insulin level background.

Do not arbitrarily inject insulin.

Some other important notes

1. Insulin is the drug that causes the most severe hypoglycemia;
2. There is no insulin dose limit;
3. Insulin is only injected under the skin, usually the injection site is in the abdomen, upper arms and thighs;
4. Insulin is often used in combination with tablets;
5. Insulin is used for intravenous infusion in the case of ketoacidosis coma, during surgery or increased blood osmotic pressure;
6. Treatment can only be used with insulin if the insulin deficiency is severe;
7. Ready-mixed insulin can be administered twice daily before breakfast and afternoon.
8. Ready-mixed analog insulin can be injected 3 times a day;
9. For each patient with different disease status, the insulin dose can be adjusted every 3-4 times / day.

4. Side effects of insulin

Insulin has typical side effects such as hypoglycemia , somogyi phenomenon, insulin allergy, adipose tissue dystrophy, weight gain.

In particular, hypoglycemia is the most common side effect when injecting insulin directly into the body. When excess insulin is used, it also inhibits glycogen metabolism, causing a sharp drop in blood glucose levels.

The somogyi phenomenon is the phenomenon of insulin overdose , leading to hypoglycemia and the release of too many hormones that regulate back causing hyperglycemia.

Other side effects such as Insulin allergy are rare in the present time.

1. A way to treat diabetes with insulin is not possible
2. "Remote" insulin injection technique for diabetics