Insulin is a critical hormone in the human body and is produced and released by the pancreas when glucose levels in your bloodstream rise. It plays a major role in regulating carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism, enabling the use of these three macronutrients for energy or to aid in storage as fat.
In this article, we will cover what insulin is and how it works in the body.
What Is Insulin?
Insulin is a peptide hormone. It’s produced in cells in your pancreas called beta cells. When insulin is present, it allows muscle, fat, and liver cells to respond to glucose in the bloodstream.
Insulin is most known for its role in diabetes when cells become unresponsive to the presence of insulin. Without insulin, your blood sugar levels can rise dramatically and result in very high glucose levels in your bloodstream, which can lead to diabetic coma or even death.
How Insulin Works
Insulin has a number of effects on carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Its main effect is to regulate how these three macronutrients are used and stored in the human body.
Carbohydrates: When blood sugar levels rise after a meal, insulin causes muscle cells to take up glucose from your blood and store it as glycogen until those cells need it for energy.
Proteins: When blood sugar levels rise, insulin signals muscle cells to take up amino acids from your blood and store them as proteins in your muscles. It also stimulates the uptake of amino acids in your liver and inhibits their release into your blood.
Fat: When blood sugar levels rise, insulin signals fat cells to take up fatty acids from your blood and store them as triglycerides (fat). Additionally, insulin has an effect on adipocytes (fat cells) by stimulating glucose uptake and inhibiting their release into your blood.
Why Insulin Is Important
Insulin plays an important role in your body. These effects aid in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and allow for the efficient use of carbohydrates, proteins, and fat for energy or storage as fat. It is important to ensure that your insulin is working effectively so that your body can maintain healthy blood sugar levels.