The hormone insulin is an important part of the body's metabolic system. Without the hormone insulin, cells will lack energy and must find a replacement source.
Insulin is a natural hormone produced by the pancreas. When we eat, the pancreas releases the hormone insulin which allows the body to convert glucose into energy and spread throughout the body. This one hormone also helps the body store energy.
Relationship of Blood Sugar with Insulin
Insulin helps control blood sugar (glucose) levels in the body. You do this by giving signals to fat cells, muscles, and liver to take glucose from the blood and convert it to glycogen (muscle sugar) in muscle cells, triglycerides in fat cells, and both in liver cells. This is a form of energy source that is stored by the body.
As long as the pancreas produces enough insulin and the body can use it properly, blood sugar levels will always be in a healthy range. Because in essence, too much or too little glucose level is not good for health.
Glucose buildup in the blood (hyperglycemia) can cause complications, such as kidney and nerve damage, and eye problems. While too little glucose in the blood (hypoglycemia) can make us feel tired, irritable, confused, to lose consciousness, aka fainting.
And if insulin in the blood is not enough, the body's cells will starve. Insufficient insulin means that glucose cannot be broken down and that means cells cannot use it. As a result, fat begins to be broken down to make energy. The process then results in a buildup of chemicals called ketones.
Ketones that accumulate in the blood and urine are very dangerous because they can trigger the condition of ketoacidosis in diabetics. Ketoacidosis can even be life threatening if not treated immediately. Symptoms include frequent urination for one or several days, feeling very thirsty and tired, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, drowsiness, until loss of consciousness.
If Insulin Is Interrupted
If insulin production or action is interrupted, some of these diseases or conditions can strike you:
- Insulin resistance. This condition occurs when muscle cells, fat, and liver cannot use insulin properly. In effect, the pancreas will go the extra mile to produce more insulin so that glucose can be used as energy. If not treated, over time insulin resistance will develop into diabetes.
- Diabetes mellitus. A disease in which blood sugar levels become too high due to the body's inability to use glucose into energy. Glucose cannot be changed because the amount of insulin in the body is not enough, or the body's cells do not react to insulin. Insulinoma, which is a small tumor in the pancreas, will result in excessive insulin production.
- Metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that can increase the risk of heart disease and other health problems, such as stroke and diabetes. Conversely, conditions where insulin does not work effectively to reduce blood sugar levels, or called insulin resistance, can also increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is a medical condition that causes interference with ovarian work. PCOS results in abnormal levels of several hormones in the body, including higher levels of the hormone insulin. Many women with PCOS also experience insulin resistance. As a result, the body will produce more insulin.
Insulin is one of the important hormones in the body. Without the hormone insulin, cells will lack energy and must find alternative sources of energy. As a result, life-threatening complications can occur. Therefore, it is important to routinely check health conditions to the doctor and do regular blood sugar checks. If there are signs of interference with insulin, the doctor will begin to determine the appropriate treatment steps.
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