What Is Insulin - The Complete Guide
You might have heard of insulin in connection with the disease
known as diabetes. Still, you might be curious about
insulin--what it means for the body and what can happen if the
body does not produce enough of it. In addition, chances are you
know little about the history of insulin and how science's
knowledge of insulin has changed over the years.
To begin with, knowledge about insulin is a relatively new
phenomenon. Berlin medical student Paul Langerhans first
discovered insulin in 1869. Using a microscope, Langerhans
noticed a heap of cells in the pancreas which later became known
as the Islets of Langerhans. Later, scientists surmised that
these cells produce insulin, which regulates carbohydrate
metabolism. In January of 1922, Leonard Thompson, a 14-year-old
diabetic, received the first insulin injection. Because the
extract was impure, Thompson experienced a severe allergic
reaction. As a result, doctors cancelled future insulin
injections for Thompson. However, in later years, researchers
were able to perfect insulin injections, making them the primary
means of treating diabetes.
In addition to its role in metabolism, insulin controls the
storage and release of fat, the cellular uptake of amino acids
and electrolytes, and affects small vessel muscle tone. In fact,
the concentration of insulin can affect the entire body. This is
why diabetics can suffer a variety of side-effects, including
blindness and slow healing of wounds. Those who suffer from type
1 diabetes require insulin injections in order to survive, while
type 2 diabetes patients may need insulin if other medication
and dietary changes are ineffective in controlling blood glucose
levels.
At this point, it is not possible to take insulin orally.
Instead, insulin is administered through syringes with needles,
or insulin pens with needles. However, there are a number of
problems associated with insulin as a treatment for diabetes.
For instance, it can be difficult to determine the appropriate
dose of insulin. The dosage, as well as the timing of the
dosage, must often be adjusted, based upon eating habits,
exercise routines, or the additional stress of illness. Insulin
injections can be a nuisance for patients and, if the patient
makes a mistake in terms of dosage, they can actually be
dangerous.
Still, when it is used appropriately, insulin can help restore
the body's metabolism to normal levels. As a result, through
proper administration of insulin, athletes and artists can
perform at their optimal level without difficulty. For instance,
Olympic swimmer Gary Hall Jr. is an example of a diabetic who
has been helped by insulin, while David Crosby of the singing
group Crosby, Stills & Nash has also benefited from insulin
injections.
In the year 2004, the former spouse of an international track
star maintained that the athlete had used insulin to energize
the body. The report promoted the idea that the hormone insulin
could be utilized like a steroid in enhancing the body's
functions. However, researchers say that insulin does not have
the same effects as steroids. They say that eight decades of
steroid use do not indicate that insulin could be used as a
performance-enhancing drug for those who are not diabetics.
While insulin can help to alleviate fatigue for those with
diabetes, it does not have the same chemical composition as a
steroid. Therefore, doctors say that the use of insulin by
non-diabetics is, in fact, dangerous.
Proper use of insulin is essential for those with type 1
diabetes. It can enable them to lead a normal, productive life.
However, while insulin is a legitimate treatment for diabetes,
it is not a cure. Research is now underway to try to make
diabetes a disease of the past and to make insulin injections
unnecessary.