Clarifying the Role of Insulin in Type 2 Diabetes Management
Insulin is an important hormone that controls many bodily processes. However, problems with this hormone are at the heart of many modern health conditions.
This article explains all you need to know about insulin in type 2 diabetes management.
What is insulin?
Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that allows the body to use glucose for energy. Glucose is a type of sugar found in many carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates in the food we eat are broken down in the digestive tract and changed into glucose. That glucose is then absorbed into the bloodstream through the lining of the small intestine.
Once glucose reaches the bloodstream, insulin signals cells throughout the body to absorb this sugar and use it for energy.
When there is too much blood glucose, insulin directs the body to store the leftover glucose in the liver. The stored glucose isn’t released until your blood glucose levels decrease.
The blood glucose levels may decrease between meals or when the body is stressed or needs an extra boost of energy.
What happens in type 2 diabetes?
Diabetes is a long-term condition that occurs when the body doesn’t use insulin properly or produce enough insulin.
In type 2 diabetes, the cells do not respond properly to insulin. This means the body needs more insulin to get the same effects. This is called insulin resistance.
As a result, the body overproduces insulin to keep the blood glucose levels normal. After many years of this overproduction, the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas burn out.
Type 2 diabetes can affect people of any age.
What causes insulin resistance?
The main factor that contributes to insulin resistance is the increased levels of fat in the blood. The main cause of elevated fat levels in the blood is overeating and carrying excess body fat.
The dangerous belly fat accumulates around internal organs, may release many free fatty acids into your blood, as well as inflammatory hormones that drive insulin resistance.
Although this condition is more common among those with excess weight, people with low or normal weight are also susceptible.
Why people with type 2 diabetes may need insulin?
In type 1 diabetes, insulin is a way to control the blood glucose level. Whereas in type 2 diabetes, dietary changes, increasing physical activity, and some oral medications are usually enough to bring your blood glucose to a normal level.
However, there are other reasons for people living with type 2 diabetes may also need supplemental insulin.
- Insulin can quickly bring the excessively high blood glucose level down to a healthier range.
- Insulin will also give the body a rest, especially the beta cells that produce insulin that has been working overtime to try to bring down the blood glucose level.
- Insulin has fewer side effects than some of the medications because it is a synthetic version of a hormone the body produces. The one side effect is hypoglycemia.
- Insulin is generally cheaper than medications (on a monthly basis), especially if the doctor wants you to take multiple medications.
If you decide to use insulin to control your type 2 diabetes, talk to your doctor about the basics of insulin dosing, and figure out how to balance food, exercise, and insulin as you take care of the body.
In addition to insulin and oral medications, FENFURO can also prevent high blood glucose levels.
FENFURO is a 100% natural product extracted naturally from fenugreek seeds without additives and has been approved by FSSAI. It contains a rich variety of saponins and flavonoids that are known to play a valuable role in maintaining stable blood glucose levels.
References:
https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/type-2-diabetes/type-2-diabetes-insulin
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/insulin-resistance.html
https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/type-2-diabetes