Human Insulin

Excerpt

The management of type 1 diabetes mellitus entails replacing the actions of the beta cells of the pancreatic islet to detect the need for insulin and to have insulin administered according to the requirements of the patient's body. This activity reviews the indications for the use of insulin, its mechanism of action, routes of administration, contraindications, adverse effects, monitoring its blood concentrations, and toxicity. It also describes in detail how insulin leads to shifts of electrolytes between the intracellular and extracellular compartments. Also, this activity summarizes the cellular production of insulin and its function via its receptor and the numerous effects on carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism.