The Basics of Insulin

Diabetes results from either the lack of or the resistance to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas. It is essential to the conversion of glucose in the blood into glycogen which is used as energy source by the body. As it is no longer produced by the pancreas in type 1 diabetes, a person diagnosed with this disease needs to be injected with insulin. People with type 2 diabetes may also be required insulin injections when the first remedy diabetes pills stop working.

For the longest time, the insulin used in human insulin therapy was derived from the pancreas of pigs and cows. In the 1980's however, synthetic human insulin genetically engineered from bacteria became available. As a result, most insulin used in therapy nowadays is already of this type. There are people who respond better to animal insulin hence it is still manufactured to this day.

Insulin is classified according to how quickly they work; its peak time and the longevity of its effect. One insulin type is rapid-acting which takes effect 5 minutes after it is injected, reaches peak time in 1 hour and remains effective for 2 to 4 hours. Another type is regular or short-acting which takes effect 30 minutes after injection; has peak time within 2 to 3 hours and remains active from 3 to 6 hours. The third type is intermediate-acting which enters the blood within 2 to 4 hours after it is injected, reaches its peak 4 to 12 hours after and stays in effect for about 12 to 18 hours. Finally the fourth type is long-acting insulin which takes 6 to 10 hours to reach the bloodstream after injection and remains in effect for 24 hours.

The insulin with a well-known brand name Humulin for example is available as short-acting (Humulin R), intermediate-acting (Humulin N) and as a mixture of both. Another well-known brand name Novolin is also available in same type as Humulin.

Insulin that is commonly available is in the strength U-100, meaning 100 units of insulin per milliliter of fluid. It is also available as U-40 and higher strength U-500. The insulin strength of available insulin in the market can vary from country to country, so travelling diabetics are advised to research beforehand the available strength in the country they are visiting especially if they intend to stay for a long period. Additives are also added to insulin to preserve it and prevent bacterial growth. In some diabetics, the additives create an allergic reaction.

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