How does insulin work in the body is a very important question to understand. Insulin is a hormone produced by beta cells in the pancreas and plays a crucial role in regulating blood glucose levels. When you consume food, especially carbohydrates, your blood glucose levels rise. In response, the pancreas releases insulin which facilitates the transport of glucose from the bloodstream into the cells to be used as energy or stored for later use. In individuals with diabetes, the body either doesn't produce enough insulin (Type 1 diabetes) or doesn't use insulin effectively (Type 2 diabetes), resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. Therefore, exogenous insulin or medications that increase insulin effectiveness are often used to manage glucose levels in diabetes, essentially mimicking or enhancing the natural process.
References:
Stanford University. (2019). "Insulin’s Role in the Human Body." diabetes.stanford.edu. https://diabetes.stanford.edu/about-insulin/
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2020). "What is Diabetes?" www.niddk.nih.gov. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes
American Diabetes Association. (2018). "Insulin Basics." www.diabetes.org. https://www.diabetes.org/resources/medication-treatments/insulin-other-injectables/insulin-basics
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