Diabetes is a condition that has been in the public eye for quite some time. However, plenty of people still don’t grasp the nature of insulin, as well as what does it mean to have too little of this hormone in the blood. Without further ado, let’s investigate the condition called insulin deficiency.
What is insulin?
First things first, insulin is a hormone created by beta cells of the human pancreas. It’s responsible for glucose conversion into energy by the fat cells and by the liver. While normally, the right amount of insulin is released to deal with excess blood sugar, some conditions like diabetes make things more complicated.
How does insulin deficiency affect blood glucose levels?
When the levels of insulin are too low, there isn’t enough of this hormone to absorb glucose from the blood. It means that its levels will continue growing, increasing the chance to develop prediabetes and, if no measures were taken, diabetes itself.
Keeping sugar in check is important for a person’s metabolism, as well as for their overall health. Too high blood glucose levels can be told by some unpleasant symptoms.
Is insulin resistance different?
Insulin deficiency means too little insulin in a person’s blood to convert carbohydrates into energy, which leads to high levels of sugar in the blood.
As for insulin resistance, this condition is all about the receptors’ ability to respond to the hormone. It doesn’t matter if its amount is too high or too low. In case of resistance, insulin is just ignored by the cells of the body.
While deficiency is more common for type 1 diabetes, the insulin response is limited for people suffering from type 2 diabetes.
What are the symptoms?
One of the principal symptoms of diabetes is excessive urination, or polyuria. This is caused by the great amount of glucose that filters into the kidney tubule and the volume of water required to carry it away. The glucose acts as a diuretic. Normally, glucose that enters the kidney tubules is reabsorbed and does not appear in the urine. In diabetes, however, the amount of glucose that the kidney tubules can reabsorb, the tubular maximum, is surpassed. The excess glucose is excreted in the urine, a condition called glycosuria. Glycosuria is a major sign of diabetes.
The great loss of water with the glucose could result in dehydration, but the diabetic has an excessive thirst. By drinking large amounts of water, polydipsia, the diabetic compensates for the fluid loss. An unusual thirst is also one of the symptoms of diabetes.
Cells prefer to metabolize glucose. In its absence, cells metabolize fats first and proteins last. This is known as the “protein-sparing effect.” Since glucose cannot enter the cells without the action of insulin, the diabetic metabolizes a large amount of fat. Fat metabolism produces a large number of fatty acids and ketone bodies, acetone and related substances. The presence of ketone bodies in the urine is another sign of diabetes.
The production of acids lowers the body’s pH, and the condition of acidosis results. This is one of the most serious consequences of diabetes. The body tolerates only a very limited pH range of 7.35 to 7.45. If the pH drops below 6.9 to 7.0, the patient goes into a coma and will die if not treated.
Another sign of diabetes is weight loss, although the diabetic’s appetite is good. The patient tires easily and lacks energy. In the absence of glucose to metabolize, the diabetic uses the body’s tissue fat and protein, as well as that in the diet, which explains the loss of weight. There is an increased breakdown of tissue protein and a decrease in protein synthesis that results in poor wound healing. Susceptibility to infection also accompanies diabetes.
Being deficient in insulin leads to the development of hyperglycemia. This condition is accompanied by the warning signs that are common for people suffering from type 2 diabetes. The effects of insulin deficiency and include:
- Thirst – high sugar makes a person drink liters of water;
- Hunger – constantly feeling starving despite eating enough;
- Fatigue – sleeping doesn’t matter, exhaustion is always there;
- Restlessness – it’s hard for someone with hyperglycemia to calm down;
- Rapid heartbeat – this symptom is present even when a person is at rest;
- Polyuria – increased volume of urination must be of some concern;
- Vomiting – usually, throwing up is a sign of food poisoning. Combined with other diabetic symptoms mentioned here, vomiting can indicate high blood sugar levels;
- Itchy skin – hyperglycemia can trigger skin rash and itching;
- Weight changes – both weight gain and weight loss are associated with diabetes;
- Poor cuts healing – severe hyperglycemia prevents wounds from healing at a normal rate;
- Blurred vision – if it’s harder than usual to read or to see clearly, a person should be aware that this condition can be a sign of high sugar levels.
These signs can also be symptoms of insulin resistance. In order to avoid complications, those at higher risk of developing diabetes and metabolic syndrome must stick to a healthy diet and exercise regularly to be in control of their levels of glucose. Moreover, it’s crucial to seek medical attention and get help for blurry vision, as it can be a symptom of insulin resistance or diabetic macular edema. Monitoring your glucose levels, following a healthy lifestyle, and consulting with healthcare professionals can help prevent complications and maintain optimal health.
Treatment of Diabetes
The important factors in treating diabetes are diet, insulin, and exercise. The insulin dosage prescribed accompanies a carefully regulated diet that includes some carbohydrates. The diet cannot be altered without creating an insulin excess or deficiency. A person who exercises actively requires less insulin than one who does not. A diabetic’s exercise pattern is a factor in prescribing insulin.
Regulation of the proper insulin dosage takes time. Certain factors illness or emotional stress can temporarily alter a patient’s needs. There are different types of insulin (fast-, intermediate- and slow-acting), which are effective over various time periods. These are often prescribed in combination.
Insulin must be given by injection. It is a protein and would be digested in the gastrointestinal tract. There are oral compounds that can be used for mild diabetes, maturity-onset diabetes, but they are not insulin. These are oral hypoglycemic agents, which stimulate secretion of insulin from beta cells that still have some capacity.
Diabetic Coma
Diabetic coma develops when a severe diabetic fails to take enough insulin or deviates markedly from a prescribed diet. Acidosis and dehydration result, and death can follow if proper treatment is not given immediately. One symptom of diabetic coma is deep, labored breathing, which results from the effect of the acidosis on the respiratory center of the brain. The patient’s breath has a fruity, acetone smell. The skin is flushed and dry, and the tongue is dry due to the dehydration. A diabetic coma may have a gradual onset, during which time the patient is drowsy and lethargic. If urine and blood samples are taken, a high level of sugar is found.
Treatment of the comatose patient requires a large dosage of insulin. Dehydration must be remedied by administration of fluids. Sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, which counteract the acidosis, are administered in the fluid. The patient’s level of potassium must be checked; the entire electrolyte balance is affected by the dehydration.
Insulin Shock
Insulin shock, also called hypoglycemic shock, results from too much insulin, not enough food, or excessive exercise. The patient feels light difference is that the deep, rapid breathing and acetone breath characteristic of diabetic coma are not present in insulin shock. The patient in shock breathes shallowly. Intravenous injections of glucose must be given immediately for insulin shock. The administration of epinephrine also raises the blood sugar level. Figure 13-32 illustrates the differences between diabetic coma and insulin shock.
To sum up
It’s necessary to understand that having one symptom doesn’t automatically mean hyperglycemia, insulin resistance or deficiency, or any other disease. All the warning signs and risk factors must be analyzed by a doctor. Articles on the Internet can’t provide medical advice, diagnosis, and proper treatment. If some of the symptoms concern you, feel free to discuss them with your healthcare provider, take all the prescribed medications, and don’t forget about physical activity.
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