The importance of insulin

Your pancreas, a gland situated behind your stomach, produces insulin. Insulin uses the glucose in your body for energy and glucose is a type of sugar that can be acquired from carbohydrates.

When you are eating a snack or meal, your digestive tract breaks down the carbohydrates and then converts them into glucose. It then goes into your bloodstream through the lining in your small intestine. Once glucose is in the bloodstream, the insulin will make the cells all over your body to absorb the sugar and convert it into energy.

Insulin in Vacaville is also responsible in providing balance to your blood glucose levels. Having excessive glucose in your bloodstream will cause the insulin to signal your body to store the excess in your liver. The stored glucose will not be released until your blood glucose levels are reduced, which happens between meals or when your body requires an extra boost of energy.

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Understanding diabetes in Vacaville

When your body does not produce enough insulin or it is not being used properly, then you are at risk for diabetes. Diabetes also comes in two forms: type 1 and type 2.

• Type 1 diabetes is classified as an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease causes your body to attack itself. If you have type 1 diabetes, then your body is unable to produce insulin. The reason for this is that your immune system has destroyed the cells that produce insulin in your pancreas. This disease is common in young people, but it can also develop during adulthood.
• Type 2 diabetes causes your body to become resistant to the effects of insulin. It will make your body demand more insulin to experience the same effects. This will make your body produce more insulin to maintain your blood glucose levels. However, years of overproduction will cause the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas to become overworked. This disease is common in people of any age, but it mostly develops later in life

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Insulin as treatment for diabetes

Insulin injections can help treat both types of diabetes. The injected insulin acts as a replacement to your body's inability to produce insulin. Type 1 diabetics are incapable of producing insulin, so this injection can help control their blood glucose levels.

People with type 2 diabetes can still manage their blood glucose levels through oral medication and lifestyle changes. However, if these treatments cannot help in controlling their glucose levels, they may also resolve to use such injections to also manage their blood glucose levels.

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Types of insulin treatments

All types of insulin can also yield the same results. They imitate the natural increase and decrease of insulin levels by the body. The makeup of different types of insulin affects the effectiveness of their duration.

• Short-acting insulin: This is injected before a meal. It starts working 30-60 minutes after injecting and can last for 5-8 hours.
• Rapid-acting insulin: This type of insulin starts working 15 minutes after injection. It can last for 3-5 hours and it is mostly used before a meal.
• Intermediate-acting insulin: This insulin type works 1-2 hours after injection and can last for 14-16 hours.
• Long-acting insulin: This insulin will not work until about 2 hours after injection. It can last for 24 hours or longer.