Insulin & types of diabetes

Insulin is made in the pancreas (an organ that sits behind the stomach). Insulin is made by islet beta cells in the pancreas.

Insulin is a hormone that plays several roles in the body. It regulates how the body uses and stores glucose and fat.

The body’s cells need insulin to take glucose out of the blood for energy.

If cells have enough energy, the liver stores excess glucose as glycogen. The liver can store up to around 5% of its mass as glycogen.

Insulin is generally described as a ‘key’ that unlocks cells to enable them to take up glucose and use it for fuel.

If the insulin “key” works in the lock, the door will open, and glucose will move from the blood into your cells.

• People with Type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin. They do not have the ‘key’ to the cells allowing the glucose to be absorbed. This causes blood sugar levels to rise.
• In people with Type 2 diabetes, excess fat can clog up the locks. This means the insulin ‘keys’ don’t fit the locks as well as they did. Less locks open and blood glucose levels begin to rise. This is known as ‘insulin resistance’. The pancreas responds by making more insulin to try and lower the blood glucose levels. Over time, the pancreas can become overworked. It can wear out and make less insulin. This is known as insulin deficiency.