Get acquainted with insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to help control blood sugar. This hormone is closely related to health problems that cause high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) and low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia), including diabetes mellitus. So, what is the function and workings of the insulin hormone in regulating blood sugar levels?

The function of the insulin hormone for the body

According to the explanation of Medical Biochemistry, insulin is a hormone that helps the absorption of glucose into the body's cells to control blood sugar. Glucose itself usually comes from foods containing carbohydrates, and is converted by the body into the main energy source.

Every cell in the body needs energy to work. However, cells cannot directly convert glucose into energy. That is why the body needs the help of this hormone.

The hormone insulin is made in beta cells found in the pancreas. Its function is to regulate blood sugar levels to remain normal. This hormone also helps the process of transferring glucose from the blood into the liver, muscle cells and fat cells to be stored in the form of glycogen as an energy reserve.

Apart from helping regulate blood sugar, this hormone can also affect the liver to convert glucose and glycogen into fat.

How the hormone insulin works

After eating, foods containing carbohydrates are digested and converted into glucose. This results in an increase in glucose in the blood.

An increase in glucose in the blood is a sign for the pancreas to release this hormone into the bloodstream.

In helping glucose absorption, insulin will act as a "key" in the body's cells so that glucose can enter the body's cells. These cells then convert glucose into energy energy.

The connection with the hormone glucagon

Glucagon is a protein hormone produced in the pancreas that functions as a counterweight to insulin.

The level of glucose in the blood will usually decrease 4-6 hours after eating. The decrease in glucose in the blood triggers the production of glucagon in the pancreas. When the pancreas secretes glucagon, insulin production is suppressed.

The function of the hormone glucagon is to signal the liver and muscles to break down glycogen into glucose and release it back into the bloodstream. This aims to keep your blood sugar levels from dropping too low.

Health problems due to impaired insulin function

If the pancreas does not produce enough hormones or the body's cells become resistant to insulin, blood sugar levels can spike (hyperglycemia). High blood sugar levels will eventually cause blood sugar diseases, such as diabetes mellitus.

Generally, there are two conditions that occur due to disruption of the function of this hormone, namely:

1. Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. This condition occurs because the immune system mistakenly attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. As a result, the pancreas cannot produce adequate hormones.

The autoimmune conditions that cause type 1 diabetes are not known with certainty. However, health experts believe that a faulty immune system that attacks the cells that produce hormones that regulate blood sugar can be caused by problems with genes, infections, and exposure to viruses in the environment.

2. Type 2 diabetes

In type 2 diabetes, the body seems to be no longer sensitive to insulin. As a result, high blood sugar cannot be properly absorbed by body cells and causes blood sugar levels to remain high. This condition is known as insulin resistance.

In this case the doctor will recommend lifestyle changes or maybe the consumption of diabetes drugs to help control blood sugar levels.

The function of injectable insulin for diabetes

Disorders that occur may require you to get artificial hormone help. This medication helps the patient to use glucose properly for energy. In addition, it is also useful for preventing dangerous complications of diabetes.

There are several conditions that make a person have to get additional insulin, such as:

1. Low sensitivity to insulin

The hormone insulin can affect body weight. Impaired function can cause fat accumulation in the body which leads to weight gain.

Being overweight will make your body less sensitive to use this hormone. As a result, blood sugar levels are getting higher and harder to control.

2. Damage to beta cells in the pancreas

Insulin resistance makes your body need more of the related hormones to keep blood sugar levels stable.

The continuous production of hormones makes the pancreas work harder. As a result, over time the pancreas will stop producing this hormone.

In this condition, the body that does not produce hormones that regulate blood sugar levels needs to follow therapy to prevent blood sugar levels from spiking high.

Conclusion

Insulin plays an important role in glucose absorption while maintaining normal blood sugar levels. In order to avoid diseases related to this hormone, you can take precautions with early detection by checking your blood sugar regularly.