Insulin is a hormone. It makes our body's cells absorb glucose from the blood. The glucose is stored in the liver and muscle as glycogen and stops the body from using fat as a source of energy.
When there is very little insulin in the blood, or none at all, glucose is not taken up by most body cells. When this happens our body uses fat as a source of energy.
Insulin is also a control signal to other body systems, such as amino acid uptake by body cells. Insulin is not identical in all animals - their levels of strength vary.
Porcine insulin, insulin from a pig, is the most similar to human insulin. Humans can receive animal insulin. However, genetic engineering has allowed us to synthetically produce 'human' insulin.
Porcine insulin, insulin from a pig, is the most similar to human insulin. Humans can receive animal insulin. However, genetic engineering has allowed us to synthetically produce 'human' insulin.
The pancreas..
The pancreas is part of the digestive system. It is located high up in your abdomen and lies across your body where the ribs meet at the bottom. It is shaped like a leaf and is about six inches long. The wide end is called the head while the narrower end is called the tail, the mid-part is called the body.
The pancreas has two principal functions:
The exocrine pancreas is the part of the pancreas that produces digestive juices.
Insulin is produced in the pancreas. When protein is ingested insulin is released.
Insulin is also released when glucose is present in the blood. After eating carbohydrates, blood glucose levels rise.
Insulin makes it possible for glucose to enter our body's cells - without glucose in our cells they would not be able to function. Without insulin the glucose cannot enter our cells.
Within the pancreas, the Islets of Langerhans contain Beta cells, which synthesize (make) the insulin. Approximately 1 to 3 million Islets of Langerhans make up the endocrine part of the pancreas (mainly the exocrine gland), representing just one fiftieth of the pancreas' total mass.
watch----] How the Body Works : The Pancreas
The pancreas has two principal functions:
- It produces pancreatic digestive juices.
- It produces insulin and other digestive hormones.
The exocrine pancreas is the part of the pancreas that produces digestive juices.
Insulin is produced in the pancreas. When protein is ingested insulin is released.
Insulin is also released when glucose is present in the blood. After eating carbohydrates, blood glucose levels rise.
Insulin makes it possible for glucose to enter our body's cells - without glucose in our cells they would not be able to function. Without insulin the glucose cannot enter our cells.
Within the pancreas, the Islets of Langerhans contain Beta cells, which synthesize (make) the insulin. Approximately 1 to 3 million Islets of Langerhans make up the endocrine part of the pancreas (mainly the exocrine gland), representing just one fiftieth of the pancreas' total mass.
watch----] How the Body Works : The Pancreas
Pause historic.... o.O !!
Etymology (history) of the word pancreas..
It is said that the pancreas was described first by Herophilus of Chalcedon in about 300B.C. and the organ was named by Rufus of Ephesus in about 100A.D
However, it is an established fact that the word pancreas had been used by Aristotle (384-322B.C.) before Herophilus.
In Aristotle's Historia Animalium, there is a line saying "another to the so-called pancreas". It is considered that the words "so-called pancreas" imply that the word pancreas had been popular at the time of Aristotle, but it had not been authorized yet as an anatomical term.
However, the word pancreas presumably has been accepted as an anatomical term since Herophilus.
The word pancreas comes from the Greek pankreas, meaning sweetbread.
However, it is an established fact that the word pancreas had been used by Aristotle (384-322B.C.) before Herophilus.
In Aristotle's Historia Animalium, there is a line saying "another to the so-called pancreas". It is considered that the words "so-called pancreas" imply that the word pancreas had been popular at the time of Aristotle, but it had not been authorized yet as an anatomical term.
However, the word pancreas presumably has been accepted as an anatomical term since Herophilus.
The word pancreas comes from the Greek pankreas, meaning sweetbread.
Discovery of insulin... *___*
In 1920, Dr. Frederick Banting wanted to make a pancreatic extract, which he hoped would have anti-diabetic qualities. In 1921, at the University of Toronto, Canada, along with medical student Charles Best, they managed to make the pancreatic extract.
Their method involved tying a string around the pancrease duct. When examined several weeks later, the pancreatic digestive cells had died and been absorbed by the immune system. The process left behind thousands of islets. They isolated the extracts from the islets and produced isletin. What they called isletin became known as insulin.
Banting and Best managed to test this extract on dogs that had diabetes. They discovered insulin. In fact, they managed to keep a dog, that had had its pancreas taken out, alive throughout the whole summer by administering it the extract (which was, in fact, insulin). The extract regulated the dogs blood sugar levels.
Their method involved tying a string around the pancrease duct. When examined several weeks later, the pancreatic digestive cells had died and been absorbed by the immune system. The process left behind thousands of islets. They isolated the extracts from the islets and produced isletin. What they called isletin became known as insulin.
Banting and Best managed to test this extract on dogs that had diabetes. They discovered insulin. In fact, they managed to keep a dog, that had had its pancreas taken out, alive throughout the whole summer by administering it the extract (which was, in fact, insulin). The extract regulated the dogs blood sugar levels.
At this point, Professor J. MacLeod, who had placed the laboratory at their disposal, said he wanted to see a re-run of the whole trial. After doing so he decided to get his whole research team to work on the production and purification of insulin.
J.B. Collip joined the scientific team, which now consisted of Banting, Best, Collip and MecLeod. They managed to produce enough insulin, in a pure enough form, to be able to test it on patients.
In 1922 the insulin was tested on Leonard Thompson, a 14-year-old diabetes patient who lay dying at the Toronto General Hospital. He was given an insulin injection. At first he suffered a severe allergic reaction and further injections were cancelled. The scientists worked hard on improving the extract and then a second dose of injections were administered on Thompson. The results were spectacular.
J.B. Collip joined the scientific team, which now consisted of Banting, Best, Collip and MecLeod. They managed to produce enough insulin, in a pure enough form, to be able to test it on patients.
In 1922 the insulin was tested on Leonard Thompson, a 14-year-old diabetes patient who lay dying at the Toronto General Hospital. He was given an insulin injection. At first he suffered a severe allergic reaction and further injections were cancelled. The scientists worked hard on improving the extract and then a second dose of injections were administered on Thompson. The results were spectacular.
The scientists went to the other wards with diabetic children, most of them comatose and dying from diabetic keto-acidosis. They went from bed-to-bed and injected them with the new purified extract - insulin. This is known as one of medicines most dramatic moments. Before injecting the last comatose children, the first started to awaken from their comas. A joyous moment for family members and hospital staff!!
Collip did not get on too well with Banting and Best apparently - and he soon left the project. Best continued trying to improve the extract and managed eventually to produce enough for the hospital's demand. Their work was privately published. The Eli Lilly Company soon got to hear about it and offered to assist. It was not long before the Eli Lilly Company managed to produce large quantities of refined pure insulin.
In 1923 Banting and Macleod were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Banting shared his prize with Best and Macleod shared his with Collip. The patent for insulin was sold to the University of Toronto for one dollar.
Collip did not get on too well with Banting and Best apparently - and he soon left the project. Best continued trying to improve the extract and managed eventually to produce enough for the hospital's demand. Their work was privately published. The Eli Lilly Company soon got to hear about it and offered to assist. It was not long before the Eli Lilly Company managed to produce large quantities of refined pure insulin.
In 1923 Banting and Macleod were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Banting shared his prize with Best and Macleod shared his with Collip. The patent for insulin was sold to the University of Toronto for one dollar.
Insulin injections
This part is very important for all patients with diabetes, insulin is the solution and the only Savior.
These questions are the most common By asking from patient with diabetes.
These questions are the most common By asking from patient with diabetes.
How do I prepare the correct dose of rapid-acting insulin?You may take insulin using a syringe that you fill from a vial or using a dosing pen that contains the insulin. To prepare a dose of rapid-acting insulin using a syringe, follow these steps:
1) Wash your hands.
2) Take the plastic cover off the new insulin bottle and wipe the top of the bottle with a cotton swab that you have dipped in alcohol. It's best for the insulin to be at room temperature before you inject it. 3) Pull back the plunger of the syringe. This draws air into the syringe equal to the dose of insulin that you are taking. Then put the syringe needle through the rubber top of the insulin bottle. Inject air into the bottle by pushing the syringe plunger forward. Then turn the bottle upside down. 4) Make sure that the tip of the needle is in the insulin. Pull back on the syringe plunger to draw the correct dose of insulin into the syringe (PICTURE 1). The dose of insulin is measured in units. 5) Make sure there are no air bubbles in the syringe before you take the needle out of the insulin bottle. Air bubbles can cut down the amount of insulin that you get in your injection. If air bubbles are present, hold the syringe and the bottle straight up in one hand, tap the syringe with your other hand and let the air bubbles float to the top. Push on the plunger of the syringe to move the air bubbles back into the insulin bottle. Then withdraw the correct insulin dose by pulling back on the plunger.
If your rapid-acting insulin comes in a pen, your doctor or his or her office staff can show you how to use it correctly. Follow the directions carefully.
If your rapid-acting insulin comes in a pen, your doctor or his or her office staff can show you how to use it correctly. Follow the directions carefully.
Where do I inject the insulin?
Insulin is injected just under the skin. Your doctor or his or her office staff will show you how and where to give an insulin injection. First, clean your skin with cotton dipped in alcohol (PICTURE 2, top). Most people are able to grab a fold of skin and inject insulin at a 90-degree angle (PICTURE 2, bottom; PICTURE 3). If you're thin, you may need to pinch the skin and inject the insulin at a 45-degree angle (PICTURE 4). When the needle is in your skin, you don't need to draw back the syringe plunger to check for blood.
Insulin is injected just under the skin. Your doctor or his or her office staff will show you how and where to give an insulin injection. First, clean your skin with cotton dipped in alcohol (PICTURE 2, top). Most people are able to grab a fold of skin and inject insulin at a 90-degree angle (PICTURE 2, bottom; PICTURE 3). If you're thin, you may need to pinch the skin and inject the insulin at a 45-degree angle (PICTURE 4). When the needle is in your skin, you don't need to draw back the syringe plunger to check for blood.
The usual places to inject insulin are the upper arm, the front and side parts of the thighs, and the abdomen. Don't inject insulin closer than 2 inches from your belly button.
To keep your skin from thickening, try not to inject the insulin in the same place over and over. Instead, rotate injection places.
It helps in learning how to inject insulin -------) click on the picture :D >>!!