Most people know that diabetes is about blood sugar (too much or too little of it), and that it has something to do with a mysterious substance called “insulin”. They might see someone inject insulin, usually a clear liquid that looks like water. But what is insulin and what does it do? Why do some diabetics
need to inject insulin?
Insulin starts in the organ of your body called the pancreas. The pancreas is almost as mysterious a thing to many people as insulin. We generally know a lot more about the heart, lungs and kidneys than we do about the pancreas.
Your pancreas is located in the area below your
stomach, towards the left side of your body. The pancreas produces many digestive enzymes,
including insulin and glucagon. Though both enzymes are
made by the same organ, they have opposite effects
on the body.
Glucagon works mainly to release blood sugar from the liver, kidneys and muscles into the bloodstream. Insulin, on the other hand, works to remove glucose from the
bloodstream.
It does this in two ways: first, by acting as a “key” to
unlock receptors in the cells. Every cell needs glucose for energy to grow, heal, and live. Once their receptors are unlocked by insulin, the
blood sugar enters the cells.
Second, insulin moves blood sugar into the liver, kidneys and muscles for storage. Insulin is also the main enzyme for building fat — another way of storing blood sugar
for use later.
Type 2 diabetics are able to produce insulin. Their insulin performs its fat-building function quite well. But its removal of blood sugar from the bloodstream is hampered. The cells resist its
unlocking mechanism. That is why type 2 diabetics are often called what they really are, “insulin resistant”.
They tend to build up fat, especially around the belly and chest, in the typical “apple” shape. This is an indication that their insulin resistance is not being well treated. Other health dangers such as heart disease, hypertension and stroke, are associated with uncontrolled insulin resistance and increased body-fat.
Type 1 diabetics are generally less affected by the fat-building function, as their only insulin is what they inject. Also their cells are not insulin-resistant, so the glucose moves into the cells. As far as body-fat is concerned, the problem for type 1 diabetics is too little insulin, while for type 2 the problem is too much insulin.
Blood sugar control with or without injecting insulin is not an easy thing. It requires regular testing of blood sugar and record-keeping, a regulated diet and exercise program, and plenty of
motivation to keep at it every day.
There must always be a balance between blood
sugar control and keeping body-fat in a healthy range. A focused system of diabetes management is vital to a healthy life with diabetes.
