Normal levels of insulin in the blood - high and low values. Age-related change in the amount of the hormone

If they are elevated, then insulin levels should be identified. In the presence of weakness, drowsiness, an increase in fat mass in the abdomen, thirst, the study should be carried out unscheduled. High levels of insulin, as well as low ones, are extremely dangerous for the body and indicate the presence of abnormalities. The maximum concentration is noted 2 hours after eating, after which the values ​​return to normal. Only self-control and timely examination will avoid many problems and negative consequences for good health.

A protein hormone produced in the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. It affects the metabolism in almost all tissues. The main action of insulin is to lower the concentration of glucose in the blood. In addition, insulin enhances the synthesis of fats and proteins and inhibits the breakdown of glycogen and fats. The normal concentration of immunoreactive insulin in the blood on an empty stomach is from 6 to 12.5 mcU / ml. Lack of insulin production (congenital or acquired) leads to diabetes mellitus. An increase in the concentration of insulin in the blood is observed with insulin resistance of tissues and underlies the development of the metabolic syndrome. Insulin preparations are used as medicines for diabetes mellitus.

What do we know about insulin? If the body suddenly stops producing it, the person is doomed to lifelong injections. Indeed, artificial insulin in diabetes instead of its own, which has ceased to be produced, is a salvation for those who are ill. Modern pharmaceuticals offer high-quality drugs that can completely replace the natural production of insulin and provide a high quality of life for the patient. Gone in the past conventional syringes and large bottles of drugs, from which it is so difficult to get the right dose. Today, the introduction of insulin is not difficult, because the medicine is available in convenient syringe pens with a dispenser, and sometimes a special pump is installed for patients, where portions of the medicine are measured and automatically enter the bloodstream.

Why is insulin so important? It regulates the level of glucose in human blood, and it is glucose that is the main source of energy for the body. The action of insulin is very multifaceted and well studied by modern science.

The hormone insulin

Human insulin is produced by specialized cells (beta cells) in the pancreas. These cells are mostly located in the tail of the gland and are called the islets of Langerhans. They are located in the pancreas. Insulin is primarily responsible for regulating blood glucose levels. How does this happen?

• With the help of insulin, the permeability of the cell membrane improves, and glucose easily passes through it.
• Insulin is involved in the conversion of glucose into glycogen stores in the muscles and liver.
• Insulin in the blood promotes the breakdown of glucose.
• It reduces the activity of enzymes that break down glycogen and fat.

A decrease in insulin production by the body's own cells leads to the fact that a person begins type 1 diabetes. In this case, the beta cells themselves are irreversibly destroyed, where insulin should be produced during normal carbohydrate metabolism. A person with this type of diabetes requires constant administration of artificially synthesized insulin. If the hormone is produced in the right amount, but the cell receptors become insensitive to it, this indicates the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Insulin is not used for its treatment in the early stages, but with the progression of the disease, the endocrinologist may prescribe his injections to reduce the load on the pancreas.

Until recently, in the treatment of patients, a drug made on the basis of animal hormones, or modified animal insulin, in which one amino acid was replaced, was used. The development of the pharmaceutical industry has made it possible to obtain high-quality drugs using genetic engineering. Insulins synthesized in this way do not cause allergies; for successful correction of diabetes, smaller doses are required.

Insulin production

Insulin production is a complex and multi-step process. First, an inactive substance is synthesized in the body, which precedes full-fledged insulin (preproinsulin), which then acquires active form. The structure of preproinsulin is written on a specific human chromosome. Simultaneously with its synthesis, a special L-peptide is formed, with the help of which preproinsulin passes through the cell membrane, turns into proinsulin and remains to mature in a special cellular structure (Golgi complex).

Maturation is the longest stage in the insulin production chain. During this period, proinsulin decomposes into insulin and C-peptide. Then the hormone attaches to zinc, which is in the body in ionic form.

The release of insulin from beta cells occurs after the amount of glucose in the blood rises. In addition, the secretion and release of insulin into the blood depends on the presence of certain hormones, fatty acids and amino acids, calcium and potassium ions in the plasma. Its production decreases in response to the release of another hormone - glucagon, which is also synthesized in the pancreas, but in its other cells - alpha cells.

The human autonomic nervous system also influences the secretion of insulin:

• The parasympathetic part affects the increase in the synthesis of the hormone insulin.
• Its sympathetic part is responsible for the inhibition of synthesis.

The action of insulin is that it controls and regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates. This is achieved by increasing the permeability of cell membranes for glucose, which allows it to quickly enter the cell. Insulin in the body affects insulin-dependent tissues - muscle and fat. Together, these tissues make up 2/3 of the cell mass and are responsible for the most important vital functions (respiration, blood circulation).

The action of insulin is based on the work of a receptor protein located in the cell membrane. The hormone binds to the receptor and is recognized by it, starting the work of a whole chain of enzymes. As a result of biochemical changes, the protein kinase C is activated, which affects intracellular metabolism.

Human insulin affects a number of enzymes, but the main function of reducing the amount of blood glucose is realized due to:

• Increasing the ability of cells to absorb glucose.
• Activation of enzymes for the utilization of glucose.
• Acceleration of the formation of glucose reserves in the form of glycogen in liver cells.
• Decrease in the intensity of glucose formation in the liver.

In addition, the action of insulin is that it:

• Increases the uptake of amino acids by cells.
• Improves the flow of potassium, phosphorus and magnesium ions into the cell.
• Increases the production of fatty acids.
• Promotes the conversion of glucose into triglycerides in the liver and adipose tissue.
• Improves DNA replication (reproduction).
• Reduces the flow of fatty acids into the bloodstream.
• Inhibits the breakdown of proteins.

sugar and insulin

Insulin in the blood directly affects the utilization of glucose. How does this happen in a healthy person? Normally, with a long break in food, the level of glucose in the blood remains unchanged due to the fact that the pancreas produces small portions of insulin. Barely food rich in carbohydrates, enters the mouth, saliva decomposes them into simple glucose molecules, which are instantly absorbed into the blood through the mucous membrane of the oral cavity.

The pancreas receives information that a large amount of insulin is needed to utilize the incoming glucose, and it is taken from the reserves accumulated by the gland during the break in eating. The release of insulin in this case is called the first phase of the insulin response.

As a result of the release, blood sugar decreases to normal, and the stock of the hormone in the pancreas is depleted. The gland begins to produce additional insulin, which slowly enters the blood - this is the second phase of the insulin response. Normally, insulin continues to be produced and released into the bloodstream as food is digested. Some of the glucose is stored in the body as glycogen in the muscles and liver. If glycogen has nowhere else to go, and unutilized carbohydrates remain in the blood, insulin causes them to turn into fats and be deposited in adipose tissue. When the amount of glucose in the blood begins to fall over time, the alpha cells of the pancreas will begin to produce glucagon, a hormone that is the opposite of insulin in its action: it tells the muscles and liver that it is time to convert glycogen stores into glucose, and thereby maintain blood sugar in norm. The depleted glycogen stores will be replenished by the body during the next meal.

It turns out that maintaining a normal level of glucose in the blood is the result of hormonal regulation of the body, and there are two groups of hormones that affect the amount of glucose in different ways:

• Insulin has a hypoglycemic effect - it reduces the amount of sugar in the blood by storing glucose in the form of glycogen in the liver and muscles. When the glucose level exceeds a certain number, the body begins to produce insulin to utilize the sugar.
• Glucagon is a hyperglycemic hormone produced in the alpha cells of the pancreas that converts liver and muscle glycogen stores into glucose.

Insulin: the norm in women

The normal level of insulin in a woman's blood indicates that the body is coping with the processing of glucose. A good indicator of fasting glucose is from 3.3 to 5.5 mmol / l, insulin - from 3 to 26 μU / ml. The standards for older and pregnant women are slightly different:

• In the elderly - 6-35 mcU / ml.
• In pregnant women - 6-28 mcU / ml.

The norm of insulin must be taken into account in the diagnosis of diabetes: along with the determination of glucose in the blood, an insulin test allows you to understand whether there is a disease. At the same time, both an increase and a decrease in the indicator relative to normal numbers are important. So, elevated insulin indicates that the pancreas is idle, giving out extra doses of the hormone, and it is not absorbed by the cells of the body. A decrease in the amount of insulin means that the beta cells of the pancreas are not able to produce the right amount of the hormone.

Interestingly, in pregnant women, the level of blood glucose and insulin has other norms. This is due to the fact that the placenta produces hormones that increase the amount of glucose in the blood, and it provokes the release of insulin. As a result, the sugar level rises, it penetrates through the placenta to the child, forcing his pancreas to work in an enhanced mode and synthesize a lot of insulin. Glucose is absorbed and stored in the form of fat, the weight of the fetus increases, and this is dangerous for the course and outcome of future births - a large baby can simply get stuck in the birth canal. To avoid this, women who have an increase in the amount of insulin and glucose during pregnancy should be observed by a doctor and follow his prescriptions.

Insulin: the norm in men

The norm of insulin is the same for men and women, and is 3-26 mcU / ml. The reason for the decrease in hormone secretion is the destruction of pancreatic cells. This usually happens at a young age, against the background of an acute viral infection(flu) - the disease begins acutely, often patients are admitted to the hospital in a state of hypo- or hyperglycemic coma. The disease is autoimmune in nature (cells are destroyed under the influence of their own killer cells, which are formed due to failures in the immune system), and is called type 1 diabetes. Only lifelong administration of insulin can help here and special diet.

When a man has an elevated level of insulin, one can suspect the presence of tumors of the pancreas, diseases of the liver and adrenal glands. If, according to the results of the examination, nothing was revealed, and the increase in insulin levels is accompanied by large numbers of blood glucose levels, one can suspect type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this case, cell receptors lose their sensitivity to insulin. Despite the fact that the pancreas produces it in large quantities, glucose cannot enter the cells through cell membrane. Type 2 diabetes mellitus in the stronger sex appears with age, obesity, unhealthy lifestyle, and bad habits contribute to it.

What troubles does a violation of the production and absorption of insulin in men entail? specific male problem diabetic - impotence. Due to the fact that glucose is not properly utilized, its elevated level is observed in the blood, and this has a bad effect on blood vessels, impairs their patency and disrupts erection. In addition, nerve damage develops (diabetic neuropathy), the sensitivity of nerve endings decreases.

To avoid this delicate issue, diabetic men need to be observed by an endocrinologist, fulfill all his appointments, regularly check the level of glucose and insulin in the blood.

The norm of insulin in a child is from 3 to 20 mcU / ml. In some diseases, both its increase and decrease can be observed:

• Type 1 diabetes is characterized by low insulin levels.

This type of disease is the main one in children. It begins, as a rule, at an early age, is characterized by a rapid onset and severe course. Beta cells die and stop producing insulin, so only injections of the hormone can save a sick child. The cause of the disease lies in congenital autoimmune disorders, any childhood infection can become a trigger. The disease begins with a sharp weight loss, nausea, vomiting. Sometimes children are admitted to the hospital already in a coma (when the body is unable to cope with sharp decline or increased levels of insulin and blood glucose). In adolescents, the onset of the disease can be blurred, the latent period lasts up to 6 months, and at this time the child complains of a headache, fatigue, an indomitable desire to eat something sweet. Pustular rashes may appear on the skin. Treatment of the first type childhood diabetes consists in prescribing insulin injections to make up for the lack of their own hormones.

• In type 2 diabetes, hyperplasia of the islets of Langerhans, insulinoma, the level of insulin in the blood rises.

Insulinoma and hyperplasia are rare, and type 2 diabetes is very common. It differs in that at elevated insulin blood sugar is not utilized, and remains high due to a violation of the sensitivity of cell receptors. Treatment of the disease is to restore sensitivity through special medications, diet and exercise.

Elevated insulin

High insulin levels in adults

AT healthy body everything should be in balance. This also applies to carbohydrate metabolism, part of which is the production and utilization of insulin. Sometimes people mistakenly believe that increased insulin is even good: the body will not suffer from high blood glucose numbers. In fact, it's not like that. Exceeding the level of insulin in the blood is just as harmful as its low value.

Why does such a violation occur? The reason may be a change in the structure and structure of the pancreas itself (tumors, hyperplasia), as well as diseases of other organs, due to which carbohydrate metabolism is disturbed (damage to the kidneys, liver, adrenal glands, etc.). However, most often high insulin becomes due to type 2 diabetes, when the pancreas works in normal mode, and the cells of the islets of Langerhans continue to synthesize the hormone normally. The reason for the increase in insulin is insulin resistance - a decrease in the sensitivity of cells to it. As a result, sugar from the blood cannot penetrate the cell membrane, and the body, trying to still deliver glucose to the cell, secretes more and more insulin, which is why its concentration is always high. At the same time, a violation of carbohydrate metabolism is only part of the problems: almost all type 2 diabetics have a metabolic syndrome, when, in addition to high sugar, a person has high blood cholesterol, hypertension, heart disease. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes can be indicated by:

• Abdominal obesity, in which fat is deposited in the waist area.
• Increased blood pressure.
• An increase in the amount of "bad" cholesterol in comparison with the norm.

Researchers believe that the reason for the development of insulin resistance is genetics: it is assumed that resistance is a way for the body to survive in conditions of hunger, because a violation of the sensitivity of insulin receptors allows you to stock up on fat in well-fed prosperous times. However, the evolutionary advantage in the current conditions has turned into a problem: the body stores fat even when it is not needed - modern developed society has long forgotten about hunger, but people continue to eat with a reserve, which is then “deposited” on their sides.

Elevated insulin levels (hyperinsulinism) can be diagnosed using a blood test taken on an empty stomach - the normal value of the hormone in the blood plasma is from 3 to 28 mcU / ml. Blood is taken strictly on an empty stomach, because after eating the amount of insulin changes dramatically.

What to do if the analysis showed a high level of insulin? First of all, you need to deal with the cause - the tactics of further treatment depends on this: for example, if the violation is associated with the presence of insulinoma, the patient is offered surgical removal tumors. When the amount of the hormone rises due to diseases of the adrenal glands and their cortex, liver, pituitary tumors, you need to fight these diseases - their remission will lead to a decrease in insulin levels. Well, if the cause of the disease is a violation of carbohydrate metabolism and diabetes, a special low-carbohydrate diet and drugs aimed at improving the sensitivity of cells to insulin will help.

Elevated insulin levels are common during pregnancy - in this case, they talk about the development of gestational diabetes. What is the danger of such diabetes for mother and baby? The child can be very large, with overdeveloped shoulders, and this is dangerous for future births - the baby can get stuck in the birth canal. High insulin levels can cause fetal hypoxia. Mothers may subsequently develop normal diabetes mellitus, not associated with pregnancy.

The risk of developing gestational diabetes increases:

• Diabetes in past pregnancies
• Excess weight
• Polycystic ovaries
• Having diabetes in the family

Why is there an increased level of insulin and a violation of carbohydrate metabolism during pregnancy?

AT normal conditions The amount of glucose in the blood is controlled by insulin, which is produced in the pancreas. Under its influence, glucose is absorbed by cells, and its level in the blood decreases. During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones that cause sugar levels to rise. Glucose through the placenta enters the baby's bloodstream, and his pancreas, trying to correct the situation, produces more and more insulin. In turn, an excessively secreted hormone contributes to the rapid absorption of glucose and its transformation into body fat. As a result, the weight of the unborn baby is growing at a rapid pace - fetal macrosomia occurs.

How does gestational diabetes manifest itself in a woman?

He usually doesn't bother. future mother, and is detected by chance during routine tests, and especially a glucose tolerance test, which is performed at 26-28 weeks of pregnancy. Sometimes the disease manifests itself more clearly: bouts of severe hunger, constant thirst and copious urination.

You can suspect gestational diabetes by ultrasound of the fetus - an advance in size and weight may indicate the development of the disease.

The normal value of the level of insulin in the blood plasma during pregnancy is 6-28 mcU / ml, glucose - up to 5.1 mmol / l. Sometimes, in addition to these tests, a study of “glycated hemoglobin” is prescribed - it shows how long a woman has developed diabetes. Glycated hemoglobin is hemoglobin glued to glucose. It is formed when blood sugar levels are elevated for a long time (up to 3 months).

How to treat gestational diabetes?

First of all, a woman is prescribed a low-carbohydrate diet and self-monitoring of blood glucose levels with portable meters, on an empty stomach and after eating. Most violations can be corrected sensible diet with the exception of "fast carbohydrates", uniform meals and feasible physical activity (walking, swimming). Physical education is very important - after all, exercise provides the body with oxygen, improves metabolism, utilizes excess glucose and helps to normalize the amount of insulin in the blood. But if these methods did not help, the expectant mother is waiting for insulin injections, which are allowed during pregnancy. As a rule, "short" insulins are prescribed before meals, and "long" ones - at bedtime and in the morning. Medicines are used until the end of pregnancy, and after delivery, gestational diabetes resolves on its own, and further treatment not required.

High insulin levels are a problem that also occurs in childhood. More and more children suffer from obesity, the cause of which is malnutrition, and sometimes parents do not think about how dangerous it is for the body. Of course, there are cases when an increase in insulin levels is associated with other circumstances: in children, as in adults, there may be tumors and diseases of the pituitary gland, adrenal glands and their cortex, insulinomas. But more often, the violation of carbohydrate metabolism is hereditary, which is superimposed by malnutrition, lack of physical activity, and stress.

As a result, the child develops type 2 diabetes mellitus, in which, despite the active work of the pancreas and the secretion of insulin, the cells lose their sensitivity to it. Unfortunately, doctors say that type 2 diabetes has become “younger” in our time - more and more children suffer from overweight, metabolic syndrome and carbohydrate metabolism disorders.

What should I do if my child's blood tests show high insulin levels? First, it is necessary to exclude diseases that increase the production of the hormone (insulinoma, hyperplasia of the islets of Langerhans, damage to the liver, pituitary gland and adrenal glands). If these diseases are not detected after the examination, and there are signs of type 2 diabetes, treatment consists in restoring the sensitivity of cell receptors to insulin and reducing the load on the pancreas so that it does not become exhausted from excessive hormone synthesis. This can be achieved with the help of special medications, a low-carbohydrate diet and physical education. Violation of carbohydrate metabolism and obesity in a child is a reason to reconsider the menu and lifestyle of the whole family: yes - to sports and proper nutrition, no - fast food and weekends on the couch.

Causes of High Insulin Levels

High levels of insulin in a person can be different reasons. In medicine, excess hormone secretion is called "hyperinsulinism". Depending on what caused it, there are primary and secondary forms of the disease:

Primary is associated with a lack of glucagon secretion and an excess of insulin production by beta cells of the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas. This happens when:

• The pancreas is affected by a tumor that increases the production of insulin. As a rule, such tumors are benign and are called insulinomas.
• Islets of Langerhans in the gland proliferate, causing increased excretion human insulin.
• Glucagon secretion decreases in alpha cells.

The secondary form of the disorder is not associated with pancreatic problems, and is explained by abnormalities in the functioning of the nervous system and impaired secretion of other hormones that affect carbohydrate metabolism. In addition, the cause of secondary (extrapancreatic) hyperinsulinism may be a change in the sensitivity of receptors susceptible to insulin. What disorders in the body can contribute to the development of hyperinsulinism?

• Diseases of the pituitary gland.
• Diseases (including benign and malignant tumors) adrenal glands, diseases of the adrenal cortex.
• Liver damage.
• Violation in the metabolism of carbohydrates. In this case, with elevated insulin, blood sugar still remains high.
• Operations on gastrointestinal tract(particularly gastric resection) can cause carbohydrates to be evacuated too quickly into the small intestine and are actively absorbed there, causing sharp rise blood sugar and insulin release.

The most common cause hyperinsulinism today is a violation of the sensitivity to insulin of cellular receptors. Cells cease to perceive this hormone, and the body "does not understand" this and increases the production of insulin, which, however, does not reduce blood glucose - this is how type 2 diabetes is formed. As a rule, it is typical for middle-aged and older people, and accounts for more than 90% of all cases of diabetes. And if we can say about type 1 diabetes that a person was unlucky to be born with a defective gene responsible for the development of the disease, then type 2 diabetes is completely the “merit” of the person himself: it develops in those who abuse fatty and sweet, lead a sedentary life and has bad habits.

Low insulin levels in adults

A low level of insulin, as a rule, indicates the development of diabetes - due to a lack of the hormone, glucose is not utilized, but remains in the blood. A decrease in insulin levels in diabetes leads to unpleasant symptoms:

• Increased urination, increased amount of urine (especially at night). This is due to the fact that excess glucose from the blood is excreted into the urine, and glucose "takes" water with it, increasing the volume of urination.
• Feeling of constant thirst (in this way the body tries to make up for the loss of fluid in the urine).
• Hyperglycemia - an increase in glucose levels: low levels of insulin in the blood or complete absence its production leads to the fact that glucose does not enter the cells, and they experience its deficiency. You can compensate for the lack of insulin by constant injections of insulin analogues.

Causes of low insulin levels

The level of insulin in the blood can decrease due to many circumstances. To find out exactly why this happens, you need to contact an endocrinologist. The main reasons for the decrease in insulin production by the gland are:

• Unhealthy diet: the content in the diet of a large amount of high-calorie foods and animal fats, "fast" carbohydrates (sugar, flour). All this leads to the fact that the insulin produced by the pancreas is chronically not enough to utilize the incoming carbohydrates, and the body tries to increase its production by depleting beta cells.
• Non-compliance with the diet (overeating).
• Reduced immunity due to infections and chronic diseases.
• Lack of sleep, anxiety, stress contribute to a decrease in the amount of insulin produced by the body.
• Lack of active physical activity - because of them, the amount of sugar in the blood increases and at the same time the level of insulin decreases.

insulin for diabetes

Type 1 diabetes occurs in young people. it incurable disease, in which the patient will be helped only by regular injections of insulin, imitating its natural production.

Scientists believe that the cause of diabetes is a hereditary predisposition to an autoimmune disorder, and the trigger may be an injury or a cold, due to which the process of destruction of beta cells by their own killer cells begins. Thus, insulin in type 1 diabetes either ceases to be synthesized at all, or it is not enough to utilize glucose.

How does the disease begin? The patient complains that he quickly weakens and gets tired, becomes irritable, urinates frequently and is very thirsty, loses weight. Sometimes nausea and vomiting are added to the symptoms.

In the absence of insulin treatment, a person can die from hyper- and hypoglycemia. In addition, excessive blood sugar has a toxic effect on the body: blood vessels (especially the kidneys and eyes) are damaged, blood circulation in the feet is disturbed and gangrene can occur, nerves are affected, and fungal diseases appear on the skin.

The only way to treat is to choose doses of insulin that will replace the natural synthesis of the hormone by the body. An interesting fact is that with the started therapy, the so-called " Honeymoon”, when the level of insulin normalizes to such an extent that the patient can do without injections. Unfortunately, this period does not last long (largely because people stop dieting and do not take prescribed injections). If you approach the treatment wisely, you can try to save as many of your own beta cells as possible, which will continue to synthesize insulin, and get by with a small number of injections.

Type 2 diabetes

What is type 2 diabetes? With this diabetes, insulin does not cease to be produced by the body, but the sensitivity of receptors to it changes - insulin resistance occurs. As a rule, the disease develops slowly in people aged 35-40 years and above who are overweight. The cause of diabetes is:

• Hereditary predisposition to the development of metabolic syndrome and disorders of carbohydrate metabolism.
• unhealthy food with large quantity"fast" carbohydrates.
• Lack of physical activity.

On the initial stage insulin in diabetes is produced by the pancreas normal amount, but tissues do not respond to it. The body increases the secretion of the hormone, and over time, the beta cells of the pancreas are depleted, and the person needs insulin injections, as in the first type of diabetes.

The disease usually has no pronounced symptoms. Patients complain only of itching, the presence of fungal infections, and they turn to the doctor when diabetes is complicated by retino-, neuropathy and kidney problems.

At the beginning of the disease, the patient can be helped by diet and exercise. As a rule, weight loss leads to the fact that the receptors regain sensitivity to insulin. Despite the fact that the second type of diabetes is called non-insulin dependent, later the patient may need the introduction of human insulin - this happens when beta cells are depleted from excessive synthesis of the hormone.

Types of insulin preparations

Insulin treatment is the main therapy for diabetics. Depending on how the drug is synthesized, there are:

• large insulin cattle- it can give severe allergic reactions, as protein composition significantly different from human.
• Preparations derived from porcine pancreas. They can also be allergenic, although they differ from human insulin just one amino acid.
• Analogues of the human hormone insulin - they are obtained by replacing the amino acid in porcine insulin.
• Genetically modified drugs - the hormone is "extracted" by the synthesis of Escherichia coli.

Analogues and genetically modified drugs - the best choice for insulin treatment, because they do not cause allergies and give a stable healing effect. You can see the composition of the drug on the package: MS - monocomponent, NM - analogue or genetically modified. Marking with numbers shows how many units of the hormone are contained in 1 ml of the drug.

Insulins differ not only in origin, but also in duration of action:

• "Fast", or ultra-short - begin to work immediately after the introduction.

The maximum effect is observed after 1-1.5 hours, the duration of action is 3-4 hours. They are administered either before meals or immediately after. The ultra-short type of insulin includes Novorapid and Insulin Humalog.

• "Short" - effective half an hour after administration, peak activity - after 2-3 hours, in total they act up to 6 hours.

Such drugs are administered 10-20 minutes before meals. At the time of the peak of activity, you need to plan an additional snack. An example of a "short" insulin is Insulin Actrapid, Insuman Rapid.

• "Medium" - act within 12-16 hours, begin to work 2-3 hours after administration, peak - after 6-8 hours.

Such drugs are administered 2-3 times a day. An example of drugs is Protafan, Insulin Humulin NPH.

• "Long" - has a prolonged action and is an analogue of basal (background) insulin production.

It is administered 1-2 times a day. Some drugs are called "peakless" because they do not have a pronounced peak of activity and completely mimic the production of the hormone in healthy people. Peakless insulins include Levemir and Lantus.

• Combined or mixed.

In such a preparation, doses of insulin for a long time and short action already mixed in one syringe, so the patient needs to do fewer injections. Medications differ in the proportions in which two types of insulin are mixed. The specific type of drug, depending on the proportion, should be selected by the endocrinologist. An example of a combined type of insulin is Novomix.

Insulin injections are an integral part of the life of a patient with type 1 diabetes. How well a person makes them depends on his well-being and the degree of compensation for the disease. The drug is administered in subcutaneous fat- this ensures its uniform absorption into the blood. The most convenient places for injections are the abdomen (except for the navel), buttocks, the front surface of the thigh and the shoulder outside. At each part of the body, insulin enters the blood at a different speed: the slowest if it is injected into the front of the thigh, the fastest from the abdomen. In this regard, “short” preparations should be injected into the abdomen and upper arm, and long-acting insulin doses into the upper lateral part of the buttock or thigh. If the drug Novorapid or Lantus is used, injections can be made in any of the listed sites.

Do not give insulin injections in the same place and at a distance of less than 2 cm from the previous injection. Otherwise, fatty seals may appear, due to which the medicine is worse absorbed into the blood. The injection procedure consists of several stages:

• You need to wash your hands with soap.
• Wipe the skin with an alcohol wipe (if you do not take a daily shower).
• The syringe with long-acting insulin should be turned over several times, but not shaken - for better mixing.
• Then you should dial the desired dose of insulin by scrolling the dial in a circle to the left to the desired number.
• Make a skin fold and insert the needle at an angle of 45-90º, press the plunger and wait 15 seconds.
• Slowly and carefully withdraw the needle to prevent leakage of the drug from the puncture.

To ensure the optimal level of insulin in the blood, the dose of drugs and the number of injections must be selected together with the endocrinologist. As a rule, the following schemes are used:

• Three injections (breakfast, lunch, dinner) of "short", and one or two (morning and evening) - "long" insulin. This treatment best mimics the body's natural production of insulin, but requires frequent blood glucose measurements to determine the correct dose of medication.
• Two injections ("short" and "long" insulin) before breakfast and dinner. In this case, strict adherence to a diet and meals by the hour is required.

If the patient is ill with ARVI or influenza, frequent administration of "short" insulin may be necessary, since hormone production is inhibited during a viral infection.

Rules for administering insulin

The introduction of insulin must be carried out in accordance with certain rules:

• Medicine syringes should be stored at room temperature. If prolonged-acting insulin is used, it must be mixed by turning the pen.
• The choice of injection site depends on what type of insulin is being injected (“short” should be injected into places where it is absorbed quickly, “long” - where it is slowly).
• You can not make injections at the same point - this leads to the formation of seals in the subcutaneous fat and impairs the absorption of the drug.
• After removing the cap, you need to attach the needle to the syringe pen in accordance with the instructions. It is advisable to use a new needle with each new injection.
• If there is a large air bubble in the syringe, tap the body with the needle pointing up to make the bubble float, and then release a few units of the medicine into the air. Small bubbles do not need to be removed.
• The dose of the drug is set by turning the syringe regulator in accordance with the instructions.
• For the correct administration of insulin, you need to make a skin fold in the desired area, and then insert the needle at an angle of 45 to 90 degrees. After that, you should smoothly and slowly press the syringe button, count to 20, and carefully pull it out, after releasing the skin fold.

Insulin treatment is the main way to ensure a normal life for a diabetic patient. In order for the therapy to bring the desired effect, it must be prescribed by an endocrinologist. Self-selection of drugs and dosages can threaten health!

The goal of insulin treatment is to completely replace the lost own production of the hormone with the artificial administration of drugs. To do this, the doctor selects drugs that will best act on the patient's body. The patient, in turn, must be responsible for the treatment: follow a diet, diet and insulin administration.

Fortunately, the current level of development of medicine allows the patient to lead a full life: combined and long-acting drugs are produced, pumps can be used. At the same time, the idea has taken root in the minds of many: if you start insulin injections, it means admitting that you are disabled. In fact, proper insulin therapy is a guarantee that a person will not develop serious complications of diabetes that lead to disability. Adequate treatment makes it possible to “unload” the remaining beta cells and save them from the harmful effects of chronically elevated blood glucose. Over time, the patient may need smaller doses of insulin.

Diet for low insulin levels

A low level of insulin in the human body is characteristic of diabetes mellitus. Treatment of diabetes requires the appointment of a low-carbohydrate diet (table number 9 according to Pevzner). What are the dietary guidelines for this diet?

• The diet should be balanced, and its calorie content should be reduced.
• With a lack of insulin, sugar does not have time to be utilized in the blood, so you need to limit the amount of quickly digestible carbohydrates, and some of them should be completely excluded: semolina, potatoes, white rice, sugar and honey will not benefit a diabetic.
• As prescribed by a doctor, xylitol, sorbitol, fructose and other sweeteners can be used instead of sugar. As a rule, they are absorbed more slowly than glucose, and allow better control of blood sugar.
• Meals should be fractional and frequent, and portions should be small. The optimal number of meals is at least five times, while each time you should try to eat approximately the same amount of carbohydrates.
• It is necessary to include a large amount of fiber in the diet, which gives a feeling of fullness and promotes better utilization of fats and carbohydrates. Fiber is found mainly in raw vegetables: cucumbers, cabbage, tomatoes, zucchini.
• Since a violation of the production and absorption of the hormone insulin is usually accompanied by violations fat metabolism, the menu should contain products that have a lipotropic (fat-splitting) effect: cottage cheese, lean fish, beef, oatmeal.
• It is necessary to refuse dishes with a high content of animal fat, fried, rich broths.

Diet for high insulin levels

Elevated levels of insulin in the blood indicate that the pancreas produces it in excess. At the same time, the sensitivity of cell receptors to it can be impaired - this happens when metabolic syndrome when a person has diabetes mellitus, obesity, lipid metabolism disorders, heart and vascular diseases, and hypertension at the same time. The body produces insulin in vain, unnecessarily urging the pancreas. How to correct such a violation? Doctors usually prescribe medication, exercise, and diet. The basic principles of the diet are:

• Restriction of "fast" carbohydrates, which cause increased production of insulin in the body. It is best to completely eliminate them, preferring "slow" carbohydrates: brown rice, durum wheat pasta, buckwheat, whole grain bread.
• Control portion sizes - the amount of food at one meal should be small, you need to eat often (4-6 times a day).
• If possible, instead of sugar, it is better to use sweeteners.
• Give up alcohol.
• Drink plenty of plain water, completely quench your thirst.
• Reduce the amount of salt eaten (both in dishes and in its pure form).
• Refuse foods high in sodium (salted nuts, sausage, canned food).

What foods should be in the diet of a person who has high insulin?

• Lean meat (preferably beef).
• Low-fat dairy and sour-milk products, cottage cheese.
• Eggs in small quantities.
• Whole grains and cereals.
• Vegetables that do not contain starch: cabbage, pumpkin, broccoli, tomatoes, etc.
• Greens.
• Fruits with a low glycemic index.

If insulin is produced in the body in an insufficient or, conversely, excessive amount, this leads to a change in the level of glucose in the blood. And though tall and low sugar have different symptoms, the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism requires compliance with certain rules:

• If you suffer from impaired insulin production and absorption, get a bracelet or put a note in your wallet so that others can quickly respond and provide assistance.
• Regularly see an endocrinologist and follow the prescribed treatment.
• Do not drink alcohol, as it causes a sharp change in blood sugar levels.
• Try to lead a calm, measured lifestyle - after all, as you know, the production of the hormone insulin is suppressed during stress. In addition, people under stress may relate to own health disregard for the principle “it won’t get any worse anyway”, causing great damage.
• Regularly check blood sugar with portable devices (glucometers) - this way you can assess whether the body is coping with the load, or if you need to change the current dose of medication. Controlling glucose levels will help avoid life-threatening conditions such as hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic coma.
• Be smart about physical activity. You should not set sports records, because the production of insulin at the time of exercise does not change, but the utilization of glucose is accelerated, and blood sugar levels can drop to an unacceptably low value. You can fight this by eating a small amount of carbohydrate food before you start exercising, or by injecting less insulin with meals (if you are prescribed insulin therapy).
• Don't neglect preventive vaccinations, the purpose of which is to protect the body from influenza and pneumococcal infection, because during illness, hormones are produced that block the production and absorption of insulin in the body, and this is bad for health and aggravates the course of diabetes.

Produced by the pancreas, insulin is perhaps the most popular hormone. Literally every student knows that with low insulin, blood sugar increases, and type 1 diabetes occurs. An increase in insulin levels can also be initial sign diabetes, when the pancreas takes poor absorption of the hormone by tissues for its absolute lack, and begins to produce it even in excess - this is how type 2 diabetes appears.

Treatment of diseases associated with a lack or excess of insulin is different, and depends on the specific cause:

• With a lack of a hormone, insulin therapy is prescribed.
• With excessive secretion of insulin and the lack of tissue sensitivity to it, drugs are used that reduce insulin resistance.

It is important to remember: a violation of insulin production in itself is not a sentence, but a reason to contact an endocrinologist for qualified help and change your habits for healthier ones. It is unacceptable to self-medicate and experiment with dosages and drugs - all therapy should be prescribed by a doctor, depending on the medical history and characteristics of the state of health.