Insulin

Many people with diabetes take insulin to control their blood sugar (glucose). Insulin can't be taken by mouth because it would be destroyed by digestion. Instead, most people who need insulin take insulin shots. Some other ways to take insulin include insulin pens, insulin jet injectors, and insulin pumps. Someday people with diabetes may no longer need needles or shots to take insulin; researchers are testing some news ways to get insulin into the bloodstream.

Insulin is produced by the beta cells in the islets of the Langerhans in the pancreas. When glucose comes into our blood, the pancreas should automatically produce the right amount of insulin to move glucose into our cells. The bodies of people with type 1 diabetes do not make insulin. The bodies of people with type 2 diabetes do not always make insulin.

 

For more information about insulin check out these sites:

US Food and Drug Administration Diabetes Information

Insulin by KidsHealth for Kids

Insulin by KidsHealth for Parents

 

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