Insulin is a very important hormone produced in the pancreas of human islets of pancreas; it’s considered to be one of the major anabolic hormones of our body. It increases the metabolism of fat, carbohydrates and proteins by facilitating the absorption of glucose in the bloodstream into muscle, liver and other fat cells.
Insulin also facilitates the conversion of glycosylated polysaccharides of amino acids into glycogen for use in the metabolic process. In order for the glucose to enter the liver the insulin secretes from the pancreas stimulates glycogenolysis.
When glycogen is converted into glycogen, the liver is able to produce more glycogen and the sugar is taken away from fat cells to fuel the muscles and fats of the body. If everything is working as it should you can see how insulin relates to weight loss, and more importantly the prevention of storing excess fat.
Insulin also aids the body in the utilization of fats to fuel the muscle tissues of our body and to aid in the regulation of blood glucose levels.
When there is no insulin, there are two potential health concerns that can arise; first is called insulin resistance and second is called type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance occurs when insulin production in our body is decreased. The first condition of insulin resistance is not serious but the second is because of its negative effects on the other parts of our body including the heart and the brain.
Insulin Resistance is the result of an overabundance of insulin in the body; it is basically a condition wherein the cells in the body can not absorb the glucose properly. As a result of this insulin resistance, the cells become inefficient in producing energy. The body can no longer metabolize glucose efficiently and can store excessive amounts of it in fat cells to fuel the body without insulin. This condition of insulin resistance may lead to a life-threatening condition called ketoacidosis. The symptoms of ketoacidosis include rapid heartbeat, vomiting, diarrhea and weakness; this is often fatal especially when the person has not had any insulin treatment since a long period of time.
Type II Diabetes is the result of a lack of insulin in the body; this type of diabetes results from an inability of the insulin to stimulate the cells in the pancreas to produce insulin effectively. As a result of this lack of insulin, the cells in the pancreas fail to secrete enough insulin to make the cells work properly. When the cells do not secrete enough insulin, glucose can build up in the bloodstream and be stored as fat.
Type II diabetes is a serious condition and usually requires a series of treatments or insulin injections. In the United States, there are more than 7 million Americans suffering from this form of diabetes; it has become the second leading cause of death after heart disease. Type II diabetes causes the brain cells to produce the wrong kind of protein in the cells called beta-cells. These cells are responsible for storing the glucose and keeping the cells from burning the fat that is stored in the cells.
As the disease progresses, the brain is unable to produce enough insulin and hence the glucose will not pass from the bloodstream to the cells. The cells will therefore be unable to burn it and hence, it will start to burn up the fat stored in the cells and the heart and blood vessels will begin to leak. The result of this is heart attacks, stroke and kidney failure. In extreme cases, the damage to the heart and kidneys can lead to death.
The treatment for Type II diabetes is usually the same as for type I diabetes. In both forms of diabetes, the most common medication is insulin. You will be given insulin through an injection and in most cases, you will be advised to eat a diabetic diet. The good thing about a diabetic diet is that it helps you control the glucose levels in your blood and prevent it from accumulating in the muscles which would cause high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other diseases.