What Is Insulin?
Insulin is a powerful hormone made by your pancreas — a small organ behind your stomach.
Its main job? To help your body turn food into energy by controlling how much glucose (sugar) is in your blood.
Think of insulin as a key that unlocks your body’s cells so sugar from food can enter and be used for fuel.
⚙️ How Insulin Works
- After You Eat 🍞
- Food is broken down into glucose.
- Blood sugar levels rise.
- Your pancreas releases insulin.
- The Energy Switch 🔑
- Insulin helps move glucose from your bloodstream into your muscles, liver, and fat cells.
- Once inside, glucose is either used right away or stored for later energy.
- Back to Balance ⚖️
- When blood sugar returns to normal, insulin levels drop again — keeping your system stable.
⚠️ When Insulin Doesn’t Work Right
Sometimes, your body can’t make enough insulin or your cells stop responding to it. This leads to high blood sugar, a major problem in conditions like:
- Type 1 Diabetes → The pancreas doesn’t make insulin.
- Type 2 Diabetes → The body resists insulin’s effects (insulin resistance).
Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels, nerves, eyes, and kidneys.
🥗 How to Keep Insulin Healthy
- Eat balanced meals with fiber, protein, and healthy fats 🥑
- Avoid sugary drinks and processed snacks 🍩
- Stay physically active 🏃♀️
- Get enough sleep and manage stress 💤
Fun Fact 🌟
The discovery of insulin in 1921 changed medicine forever — it turned diabetes from a fatal disease into a manageable condition.