We have detected that you are located in . Do you want to switch to the local site?
Insulin is an essential hormone and chemical messenger produced by the pancreas. The function of insulin is to allow glucose found in the bloodstream to enter the body’s cells to provide energy. Insulin not only regulates blood sugar levels, but it also works to store excess glucose for energy, keeping blood sugar levels within a narrow range1,2.
If you have diabetes, your body struggles to regulate your blood sugar levels through not producing any insulin or not effectively using the insulin it can produce1. When the body can't produce insulin, insulin treatment is used to mimic the natural insulin response of someone without diabetes1.
It is important to get your blood sugar level under control when living with diabetes. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to life-threatening complications such as cardiovascular disease and diabetic ketoacidosis1. When blood sugar levels are chronically high it can also damage nerves, organs, and blood vessels1.
Insulin treatment can help people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes keep a balance of the right amount of insulin to maintain balanced blood sugar levels, which is important to stay healthy and avoid further illness later in life1.
Insulin is produced by cells in the pancreas called the islets of Langerhans (or pancreatic islets). The beta cells continuously release a small amount of insulin into the body and release surges of the hormone in response to a rise in the blood glucose level2.
Diabetes is caused when immune cells make their way into the pancreas and destroy insulin-producing cells2.
Having type 2 diabetes increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life. There are, however, many things you can do to reduce your risk including maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, exercise and by managing your diabetes3.
People with type 1 diabetes make little or no insulin, and insulin treatment is vital to stay alive1. Insulin can be self-administered through injections or insulin pumps (a small, computerised device). There’s also a variety of insulin treatment types for type 1 diabetes, including:
Provides a constant, steady release of insulin
Brings down spikes in blood sugar after eating
Combines two insulins in a single injection
People with type 2 diabetes either produce insulin but fail to use it efficiently (insulin resistance) or don’t produce enough insulin to regulate glucose levels (insulin deficiency). Insulin isn’t the first port of call when treating type 2 diabetes, but as the disease progresses, insulin treatment is often used1.
The types of insulin used for type 2 diabetes are the same as those used for type 1 (basal, mealtime and premixed), but it’s good to note that insulin types differ in three ways6:
How quickly insulin works
When insulin has the greatest effect
How long insulin works for
HQ24DI00044
