What Insulin Is
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Beta cells in the pancreas release insulin every time you eat a meal or snack to help the simple sugar--glucose--travel to the cells throughout the body. Insulin allows the body to use foods, in the form of glucose, and regulates glucose in the blood. Without insulin, blood glucose levels can become dangerously high.
What Diabetes Is
People with type 1 diabetes no longer produce insulin (or enough insulin) because of the damage done to the pancreas. People with diabetes will suffer from persistent high blood sugar because of the lack of insulin. Prolonged high blood sugar can cause serious health problems, like damage to the nerves and kidneys, and even blindness. To prevent these complications, type 1 diabetics need to take injectable synthetic insulin hormones to replace what the body no longer makes.
How Insulin Works
Different types of synthetic insulin are available to treat diabetes. Some work quickly, and some work over a long period of time. Diabetics are often prescribed a combination of insulins to take for the best control over blood glucose levels. The goal of insulin therapy for diabetes is to keep blood glucose levels at a stable and healthy level--as if the person's pancreas was working normally.
Taking Insulin
Diabetics need to check their blood glucose levels frequently to see how well their diabetes is controlled. If blood sugar is a little high, they may take a little extra insulin or get a little exercise to bring it back down to normal. If their blood sugar is a little low, they may need to have a snack or take a little less insulin. Diabetics need to take insulin every day for the rest of their lives to manage their diabetes.
