Today, we often hear about Diabetes and individuals taking Insulin for its treatment. So it has become very important for all to know what Insulin is and what it does for the body.
Insulin – What is it?
Insulin is a protein chain or a peptide hormone. It is produced in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. The name Insulin comes from the Latin word “insula” meaning “island” from the cells that produce this particular hormone in the pancreas. It helps the cells of the body to absorb glucose from the blood. The glucose is stored in the liver and muscles as glycogen and stops the body from using fat as energy sources. Insulin works in two ways namely excitatory like stimulating glucose uptake and lipid synthesis and the second class is inhibitory such as inhibiting lipolysis, proteolysis, gluconeogenesis etc.
How Insulin is produced
Insulin is produced in the pancreas. Let us see how it takes place. The pancreas has two main functions. Firstly it produces pancreatic digestive juices and secondly it produces insulin and other digestive hormones. The endocrine pancreas is the part of the pancreas that produces insulin and other hormones. When protein is ingested insulin is released. Insulin is also released when glucose is present in the blood. After eating carbohydrates the level of glucose present in blood rises and when it crosses the limit, an individual is diagnosed with Diabetes.
How Insulin Works In The Body
Insulin has few broad actions that include:
- It enables the cells in the liver, muscle and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood and convert it into glycogen that can be stored in the muscles and liver.
- Insulin controls other body systems and regulates the amino acids absorption by the cells of the body.
- Absence of Insulin in the body causes various problems like using fat as energy source. Insulin prevents the utilization of fat as energy source.
- It has other anabolic effects throughout the body.
Hence the presence of insulin in the blood is necessary for maintaining health.