Insulin-The Artificial Way To Control Diabetes

Insulin is used as a treatment for people who have Type I diabetes, .otherwise also known as Juvenile Diabetes. it is also used for those people who have Type II diabetes, but have not been able to control it by use of other drugs, or due to other factors.

There are different types of insulin, and several methods by which it is given to a diabetic patient.

Food Techniques

A long time ago, insulin was weaned from animals, and injected into the patient, who, often required multiple injections through the day. As always happens, patients started developing resistance to the insulin, thereby making it difficult for physicians to maintain blood glucose levels.

Human insulin was cloned, in 1977, with the aid of modern technology in the treatment of diabetes. The insulin used today ishuman insulin and has been found to be much more effective than the animal insulin.

With modern research techniques, today, insulin is administered in various doses, and in various ways. Insulin too is available in a variety.

Which insulin to use for which patient is something that physicians work on with their patients to find the right balance. Some require short acting insulin, while others may require intermediate, or full long lasting insulin. The key to this is finding the right glucose level for the patient.

There are three methods of using insulin, and each of it has its own characteristic; This is based on the onset, peak time, and the duration of the action of the insulin. Onset is the period taken by the insulin to reach the bloodstream, when not injected, andbegins its activity. Peak time period when the insulin is at maximum strength in the bloodstream, and duration is how long the insulin continues its work in reducing blood glucose level. It is particularly important to understand this process as it would be used differently for different patients.

An insulin, Humalog, is of the short acting type, and reaches its peak within an hour after insertion. Ultra lens, another insulin is long acting and peaks after as many as 18 hours.

Injecting insulin time and again into the bloodstream directly has its own perils. For instance some people develop allergies, or their body reacts in differing ways. In addition, if not properly sterilized and used properly, there is the danger of cross infection from the use of theinjection.

To overcome this problem, the scientific community came up with an insulin pump. A catheter is inserted into the patient's body at a convenient place, and insulin is pumped into the blood stream or the body through a pump. It is more convenient and also more effective. Using the pump, insulin can be given in three different ways. The Basal form of insulin is infused into the blood continuously. This is much more effective than injections as it is a catheter that remains under the skin and separates the insulin into three different types of insulin. Basal insulin is injected continuously. Bolus doses are administered to act on the carbohydrates consumed in food. Supplemental or corrective does can also be given. given to cover any carbohydrates consumed in a meal. Youcan also have correction doses or supplemental doses. Very effective especially if the blood sugar is high prior to the meal. The third is to give the long lasting insulin.

Since there are no pinpricks from the needle, the chances of allergies or supplemental abrasions or pain is no longer there when the pump is used.

Medical research still continues to search for a cure for diabetes, a major threat, not only in the US, but in countries like India as well. With DNA, RNA and Genome research reaching its peaks, it is expected that one day diabetes can be pinned down, and controlled by introducing genetic material that would make, issue and control insulin, eliminating the need for outside sources of healing.

Insulin-The Artificial Way To Control Diabetes