Diabetes Insulin

Insulin is derived from the Latin word "insula" which means island. This name has been given to it by Sir Edward Albert Sharpey-Scafer. He proposed this name as insulin is produced by the islets of Langerhans located near the pancreas. Further, one can say that the beta cells within the islets of Langerhans are responsible for the production of the hormone insulin.

Insulin is a polypeptide hormone. This hormone is essential in regulating the blood sugar level of the body. In fact, the amount of insulin circulating in the body has a lot of far-flung effects in the whole body.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the diseases caused by insulin. Diabetes is an endocrine disease which has no cure. It is caused when the blood sugar level in the body remains abnormally high. This happens when either there is insufficient or completely no insulin production in the body or when the cells in the liver are indifferent to the insulin.

Diabetes mellitus can be further classified as:

1. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes mellitus - IDDM in short)

2. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (also known as non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus - NIDDM in short)

3. Gestational diabetes

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the most common type of diabetes and gestational diabetes which occurs only in pregnant women is not a chronic disease. While people with type 1 diabetes require insulin (which is administered externally), some cases of type 2 diabetes sufferers eventually require insulin to be administered. (Of course, this occurs in extreme cases where even medication has no significant affect on the person suffering.)

As insulin is digested like any other protein (and hence all purpose of taking insulin is lost) when taken orally, it is required to administer insulin directly into the blood stream of the body. Research is being done on how to take insulin orally, but for now it is taken by injecting into the blood stream. Insulin is generally administered through pen needles, insulin pumps and syringes. There are many complications in administering insulin in this way. Some of them are:

1. Knowing the right dose of insulin to be administered.

2. Adjusting the insulin dosage and timing with the food intake timing, quantity and type of foods taken.

3. Also, one needs to adjust the insulin dosage and timing with one's exercise routine.

4. An extra or increased amount of insulin is dangerous and hence precautions for this should also be taken.

The method of insulin administration determines the cost rendered, convenience etc. Insulin injections on syringes are similar to the normal injections with needles. These are one time use syringes. Insulin pens consist of a vial (used to contain insulin), disposable needles and a pen. And the insulin pump consists of a pump, reservoir for insulin (which is disposable) and an infusion set (this again is disposable) consisting of a tubing system and a cannel for subcutaneous insertion. The insulin pump administers insulin throughout the day and night and is hence least preferred.

It is better to use a method in which you inject insulin many times as the blood sugar level fluctuates throughout the day depending on our exercise and food routines.