Diabetes Mellitus is one of the most common lifestyle disease affecting millions of people all over the world. Luckily, mankind has got the wonder drug “Insulin” in their hands to protect themselves from that ailment. Now the diabetic patients can lead normal life safely and happily. But many patients have many misconceptions about insulin. So, detailed information about insulin is given below, to remove those wrong notions.
The pancreatic gland in our body is constantly producing the hormone “insulin’, depending upon the demands of the body at various timings during the day. If the production of insulin is less or its efficacy of action is imperfect, the person develops diabetes.
The Mechanism of Insulin production in the body:
The food taken by us is digested and converts into glucose and enters the blood stream. Every cell in the body utilizes the glucose as energy for its normal function. But for the utilization of glucose by the cells, sufficient insulin should be present in the body. One way insulin acts as a “key’’. So first of all, Insulin should open the door of the cell and then glucose enters the cell. Otherwise glucose goes on accumulating in the blood and diabetes occurs in the body. So insulin plays a key role.
Discovery of Insulin:
Insulin was first discovered in the year 1920 by two scientists, Banting and Best, from the pancreatic gland of the dog. Later on insulin is prepared pig’s pancreatic gland and was used in the humans. But some persons raised objection to use insulin prepared from the pigs.
Afterwards, insulin was prepared from the beef (buffaloes) and was in use up to 1980. But it was giving lot of troubles to the patients.
Thereafter human insulin came into existence. It was prepared by keeping the human ‘DNA’ in the Ecolab bacteria. The insulin thus produced is almost like human insulin in all aspects. Later on human insulin has been produced by keeping the human DNA in the fungi, grown on the bread pieces. Presently this type of insulin is in use and is considered as the boon to the diabetic patients.
Indications for Insuln use:
Insulin is best being given to the following type of diabetic patients, through out their life.
1. Patients above the age of 70 years.
2. Patients suffering from diabetes for more tan 10 years.
3. If blood sugar level is more than250mg/100ml of blood on the empty stomach (without taking any thing), before breakfast.
4. If more than 500 mg level at any time during the day.
5. HbA1c (Glycosylated hemoglobin) is done once in 3months and if it is more than 10. (For these type of patients insulin has to given for 3months, afterwards oral medication is sufficient).
6. Triglyceride levels are more than 600 mg/1ooml of blood. (It is enough if insulin is given for 3months).
7. If micro albumin in urine is more than 20 mg.
8. Diabetic patients having heart problems, found in ECG testing.
9. Chest infections diagnosed on x-ray.
10. Finding retinal changes (retinopathy) in the eyes.
11. Any other serious diseases present in the body.
Note: Type-1 Diabetic patients (juvenile variety) have to take insulin through out their life.
If pregnant women develop diabetes, they have to take insulin until the completion of delivery.
Insulin saved millions of lives in the past 80 years. Insulin is really a wonder drug.
