Role of Insulin in human body : FFD

Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas, specifically by the beta cells in a part called the islets of Langerhans. When you eat, your body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose. As glucose enters your bloodstream, the pancreas releases insulin to help move that glucose into your cells for energy. This is how insulin helps reduce high blood sugar after meals. Most of the glucose is used by your muscles, which is why regular exercise is very helpful for managing type 2 diabetes.

If there’s extra glucose left in the blood after the body’s needs are met, insulin helps convert it into fat for future energy use. So, when someone consumes more food than needed, and insulin levels are already high—as is the case with many diabetics—the excess glucose is stored as fat. This often causes weight gain and increases the risk of obesity in insulin-dependent individuals.

Insulin plays a key role in maintaining blood sugar balance, storing energy, and preventing serious conditions. Without enough insulin, the body starts breaking down fat rapidly, producing keto acids. High levels of these acids can lead to a serious health issue called diabetic ketoacidosis.

Insulin also supports brain function, helps kidney health by controlling blood sugar, maintains bone strength, and protects the skin and hair by ensuring a healthy blood flow. When insulin doesn’t work properly or is lacking, many parts of the body—like the eyes, nerves, kidneys, and heart—can get damaged over time. This is why proper insulin function is critical to avoid complications like nerve pain, kidney failure, heart disease, and more.

Insulin changed the fate of diabetes when it was discovered in 1921, and today it remains one of the most important medicines for diabetic care and blood sugar control. To read more about this, visit our blog.

https://www.freedomfromdiabetes.org/blog/post/role-of-insulin-in-the-human-body-ffd/2787