As the incidence of diabetes rises in developed countries, more people are growing concerned about their blood glucose levels. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that 1 in every 3 Americans could have diabetes by 2050. If you are among this group of individuals, you may have to take a medication to control your blood glucose, or you might even have to inject additional insulin to lower your blood glucose level.
Understanding Insulin
Insulin is a protein hormone produced by your pancreas, which is a long, teardrop-shaped organ located directly behind your stomach. Insulin is synthesized and stored by specialized "beta" cells found in discreet areas, called islets of Langerhans, within the pancreas. Zinc plays a role in the production and function of insulin, which is released in response to rising blood glucose levels. Without insulin, your body could not efficiently metabolize fats and carbohydrates.
Insulin Release and Function
Whenever you eat a meal, the carbohydrates in your food are broken into simpler sugars, such as glucose, which are absorbed into your bloodstream. When the beta cells in your pancreas detect a rise in your blood glucose level, they release insulin into your circulation. Insulin is also liberated whenever you consume proteins. When insulin attaches to cellular receptors in your liver, muscles and adipose tissue, the cells are stimulated to absorb glucose from your blood. This effectively lowers your blood glucose level. Once inside your cells, the glucose can be used for energy or it can be converted to glycogen or fat and stored for future use.
Insulin Resistance
Your cells sometimes lose their ability to respond to the insulin you make, creating a condition called "insulin resistance." This condition is more common in people who are sedentary or overweight. If you are insulin resistant, your pancreas must produce more insulin to bring your blood glucose level down. Insulin resistance can progress to the point where your pancreas cannot effectively control your blood glucose; type 2 diabetes mellitus is the result.
Considerations and Implications
Insulin resistance is the driving force behind metabolic syndrome, which is a constellation of traits that increase your risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The other characteristics of metabolic syndrome are abdominal obesity, high blood pressure and either an elevated triglyceride level or a low HDL level. According to a June 2004 article in "American Family Physician," metabolic syndrome is quickly becoming the primary risk factor for heart disease in the United States. Lifestyle changes -- weight loss, regular exercise and dietary modifications -- are often all that is needed to reverse metabolic syndrome, improve your insulin sensitivity and keep your blood glucose level under control.
