Mechanisms of action of insulin. Description and purpose of the preparation

Diabetes mellitus is a common disease that does not bypass people of different ages, gender and financial status. It is important to be well-versed in what symptoms of this disease can be seen directly by the patient and how to act when they are detected. Early diagnosis of the disease can be an excellent help in minimizing the consequences of its development. However, even the presence of a diagnosis of "diabetes mellitus" is not a verdict. Patients can continue to lead a full life, subject to certain circumstances. So, a certain category of patients have to regularly make injections of insulin. It is a special hormone that is involved in the regulation of many chemical processes in the body. However, in order for this therapy to really benefit the patient, it is desirable to understand the mechanisms of the action of insulin in the human body. It is necessary to consider several important nuances. Among them: the features of chemical reactions taking place with the participation of insulin; Types of drugs based on it; Rules for the application of the substance in question; Methods of insulin administration; Reasons for the need to constantly monitor the patient's physical condition. All these points will be described in detail later in this article.

Hormone insulin

This hormone is produced by the body in a natural way. In the process of digesting food, carbohydrates from food products turn into blood glucose. This substance is the main source of energy in the human body. Where is insulin produced? In the pancreas. It is this hormone that plays a key role in the use of glucose, as well as in the formation of its stocks. Along with insulin, some other hormones, such as glucagon and amylin, are involved in this process.

The action of the hormone on carbohydrate metabolism

The mechanisms of action of insulin on the body differ depending on what metabolic processes are considered. Let's discuss one of the effects of this hormone. Namely, what effect does insulin have on glucose metabolism. If the content of this hormone in the blood is too low, then glucose is not able to penetrate the cells of the muscle tissue, and all the energy the body receives solely from the reaction of oxidation of fatty acids. When its level rises to the required level, this process can again be carried out in a natural way. In this case, the body receives enough energy. Nevertheless, with extremely high physical loads, the membranes of muscle cells can again be permeable to glucose, even if the insulin concentration in the blood is extremely low.

The importance of the role of the hormone in the metabolic processes is undeniable. It is the insulin receptor (the transmembrane receptor, whose action is activated by insulin) is important in the process of glucose homeostasis. Incorrect flow of the latter leads to the development of degenerative diseases, such as diabetes or cancer.

You should also pay attention to the liver. It is this body that makes the stores of glucose in the body. It can be freely released from the liver cells at the first necessity. It is insulin that induces the synthesis of certain substances that are known as glycolysis enzymes (namely hexokinase, phosphofructokinase-1 and pyruvate kinase), without which the process of splitting glucose would not be possible.

The action of insulin on protein metabolism

The proteins that a person receives with food are split into a number of essential amino acids, from which the body later synthesizes its own proteins. However, an adequate course of the described process is possible only with the participation of insulin in it. It provides transportation of most amino acids. Insulin also significantly increases the rate of transcription of DNA and thus stimulates the formation of RNA. It is in such ways that the hormone in question affects the synthesis of protein in the human body.

The action of insulin on fat metabolism

The hormone under consideration takes an active part in lipid metabolism, namely at the stage of lipogenesis (synthesis of fatty acids). They are formed on the basis of carbohydrates (during their decay and metabolism). The lipogenesis enzyme is active only with the participation of insulin. Therefore, in the absence of this hormone, it is impossible to carry out a normal metabolism.

Types and rules of insulin intake

The mechanisms of action of insulin have long been clear, therefore, there is a classification of the drug that is used to treat patients with diabetes mellitus. There are the following types:

• Fast-acting insulin. The effect of this substance becomes apparent within the first five minutes after its introduction. And the maximum effect is reached after an hour. However, the action also ends quickly. The injection should be carried out while eating.
• Insulin short-acting (in fact, when it comes to conventional insulin, as a rule, this type is meant). The action begins after half an hour. This substance can be taken before meals. Its action lasts longer than the above described species.
• Insulin of medium duration. This type of drug is recommended for use with fast-acting insulin or short-acting insulin. This achieves a long-lasting effect (the substance acts about half a day).
• Long-acting insulin. It is intended for introduction at the very beginning of the day. Such insulin is effective throughout the day. However, this is only possible if it is used in combination with short-acting insulin or fast acting.
• Insulin, which is pre-mixed. Its constituents are some of the above types of matter. Such insulin should be taken twice a day before meals.

Many factors influence what type of substance the patient chooses. Mechanisms of action of insulin of any of the above described species necessarily correspond to the needs and circumstances of a particular patient. The optimal dose and schedule of administration of the drug should be established by a competent specialist, taking into account all the individual characteristics of the patient, the nature of the course of the disease and the general state of his health. Insulin (the price of which on average is six hundred and eighty rubles) should be used exclusively under the supervision of a doctor.

Today the patient can choose one of the following ways of taking insulin:

• Syringe. Needles in modern syringes are very thin. That's why the injection becomes less painful. Such a needle must be inserted into adipose tissue or under the skin in the abdomen, buttocks, shoulder or thighs.
• Syringe pen. This device is sold with insulin, it usually has a dosage scale. The syringe pen often has a built-in cartridge. Insulin is also injected through a needle, but it does not inject with a piston, but with a trigger. The device is very convenient for children who have to independently administer a medicine.
• Water pump. This device provides regular introduction of insulin under the skin, usually in the abdomen. Through the necessary time intervals, the pump will direct the substance into the body through a special tube into the catheter. It is convenient because the introduction of insulin by injection becomes unnecessary.

New methods

Of course, patients eventually inevitably get used to the need to do regular injections and constantly use the needle. However, this method of treatment still causes certain discomfort. That is why a huge number of specialists are constantly working to open any new, more convenient ways of using insulin.

Until 2007, attempts continued to popularize the way the hormone was administered by inhalation. However, sales of such devices were stopped.

Today, work continues on the creation of specialized dermal patches and sprays, which would allow the introduction of insulin through the mouth. But, unfortunately, such drugs are still not available to the general public.

Places for Injection

In order for the insulin of prolonged action to be quickly and efficiently absorbed into the blood, it is injected into the stomach. Other patients prefer to inject into the shoulder. Some are also used as a place for hip and buttock injections, but they should be injected as slowly as possible.

Given the mechanisms of action of insulin, it is recommended to constantly inject in the same way and in the same place. However, in order to avoid the occurrence of any seals, you will sometimes have to change the area of the body into which the hormone will be injected. Therefore, it is better to alternate the injection site in a circle.

Exercising control

When using insulin, it is important to regularly monitor the actual level of glucose in the blood. The latter can be influenced by a variety of factors: what the patient takes in food and when, whether it does sports, whether it experiences positive or negative emotions, how it treats other diseases. The same factors can have a very diverse effect on the course of diabetes in different patients or at different stages of life of the same. Therefore, it is necessary to measure blood glucose several times a day in order to monitor a person's physical condition. To do this, you just need to take blood from your finger. And on the basis of such monitoring it is necessary to draw certain conclusions. Depending on how concentrated sugar is in the blood, insulin should be injected at the appropriate dose.

Remember that type 1 diabetes usually lasts throughout life. That's why you should constantly take care of your physical condition and be well-oriented in the nuances of your own disease, as well as monitor the condition of the pancreas, where insulin is produced.

Effects of the hormone

The substance considered in this article, insulin, is a natural catalyst for chemical reactions on which the process of metabolism in the human body is built. This hormone transports glucose into the tissues of various organs, turning it into glycogen.

Deficiency of insulin is the cause of diabetes. Its main symptoms are as follows:

• Abundant urination (six to ten liters per day) and constant thirst.
• The state of hyperkilkemia.
• Ketonomy (or metabolic acidosis).
• Inadequate metabolism of proteins.
• Significant reduction in the amount of glycogen found in the liver and muscles.
• Lipidemia (a sharp increase in the amount of fat in the blood).
• Disturbances in the oxidation of fats.
• Glucosuria.

The hormone in question actively influences the synthesis of glycogen, inhibits the transformation of amino acids into glucose. This explains the need for the introduction of insulin immediately after the patient is actively engaged in physical work. Among other things, the hormone provides the delivery of amino acids to the cells, which provides active growth of muscle fibers.

However, sometimes insulin also has a negative effect on the patient's body. It can be expressed in the deposition of triglycerides contained in adipose tissue. Thus, a sharp increase in the subcutaneous fat layer is stimulated. This is one of the main disadvantages of using insulin.

Danger of use

A number of scientists carefully examined insulin, the side effects of excessive artificial administration of this hormone into the body. Specialists were able to find out that the lethal dose of the substance in question is 100 units. It is this amount that contains a complete insulin syringe. However, you can save the patient even with an extremely serious overdose. For this it is important not to lose time and immediately call an ambulance. As a rule, even the patient himself has time to do it, being in clear consciousness. Before the coma begins to develop, there are often several more hours to take the necessary action. For example, it is important to ensure the timely delivery of glucose into the blood, which levels hypoglycemic action of insulin.

So, to monitor your health is extremely important. Unfortunately, some people have to put a little more effort into this than others. This is especially true for people with diabetes. People suffering from this disease, are forced to lead a much more limited way of life. Such patients will need to control what foods they consume, how much time they spend on sports, and how active they lead, how much they consume pure water. Some of them, especially those that are insulin-dependent, have to follow their way of life even more carefully. Such patients need to regularly inject (depending on the time of day and certain circumstances) injections of insulin (a hormone artificially replacing one that is not able to synthesize itself in the necessary amount of the pancreas patient). Such substitution therapy can in some sense alleviate the painful condition and help the patient to lead a practically full life. To do this, it is important to introduce insulin on time and in the right amount (according to all the prescriptions of specialists). Several types of convenient devices have been created for injections. They include an insulin syringe, a syringe pen and a special pump. The most popular for today are the last two options. The syringe pen is extremely convenient to handle and suitable even for young children who have to independently administer insulin. And the pump basically eliminates the need for a drug with a needle, which is suitable for the vast majority of patients.

It is important to remember the need to carefully observe all the dosages that are prescribed by the attending physician. To violate the scheme of treatment made by him is strongly not recommended, because it can lead to many undesirable consequences, including it can pose a threat to the life of the patient. Especially dangerous is the excess of the recommended dosage, since it can cause death. In order to avoid such unpleasant consequences, it is important not to ignore the doctor's recommendations and in any case not to change appointments yourself.

It is necessary to find only a high-quality drug that would only benefit the patient's body and not cause any harm. Before buying it, it is important to understand what this insulin is (price does not always reflect the actual state of affairs). Use the products of responsible manufacturers, whose reputation has been tested for years, whose products have helped support the lives of many patients. Explore reviews of real customers and follow the recommendations of competent experts. Keep your own health. Choose the best for yourself and your loved ones. Be healthy!