In the article you will learn about what insulin is, why it is used, how long it acts. Side effects of insulin will also be indicated.
The modern pharmaceutical industry produces a variety of forms of this substance. To date, several types of insulin are used in medicine. Their group affiliation is determined depending on the duration of their exposure to the body after administration.
Duration of action of drugs
In medicine, medications of the following durations are distinguished:
- short
- ultrashort;
- average duration of exposure;
- prolonged exposure period.
The use of one or another type of insulin depends on the characteristics of the patient and the treatment of diabetes. Different types of insulin differ among themselves in the method of synthesis and in composition. For each type of drug, instructions for use are developed in accordance with these features.
In addition, there are some general requirements that should be observed when performing insulin therapy. Each insulin medication has certain indications for use and contraindications.
What it is?
Insulin is a protein-peptide hormone preparation. It is used as a specific medicine in the treatment of diabetes. This is a hormone that is actively involved in carbohydrate metabolism and reduces the concentration of glucose in the blood. Carbohydrate reduction is achieved by increasing sugar intake by insulin-dependent tissues under the influence of insulin, which promotes the synthesis of glycogen by liver cells and prevents the conversion of amino acids and fats into carbohydrates.
But there is a side effect of insulin on the body.
If he is missing?
With its deficiency, an increase in sugar levels is observed, which provokes the occurrence of diabetes mellitus and other complications. Insulin deficiency occurs due to changes in the pancreas that occur as a result of malfunctions in the endocrine system, after injuries or during high psychological stress associated with stressful situations.
Medicines are made from the tissues of the pancreas of animals.
pharmachologic effect
Insulin is a specific sugar-lowering drug that has the ability to regulate carbohydrate metabolism, enhances glucose uptake and promotes its conversion to glycogen. In addition to the hypoglycemic effect of insulin on the human body, it also has other effects:
- increases the supply of glycogen in the muscles;
- promotes the synthesis of peptides;
- reduces protein consumption, etc.
The action of insulin may be accompanied by inhibition or stimulation of certain enzymes. In this case, pyruvate dehydrogenase, glycogen synthetase and hexokinase are stimulated. Lipoprotein lipase, which activates fatty acids in fatty tissue, is inhibited. The degree of secretion and biosynthesis of insulin depends on the level of glucose. With an increase in its concentration, the production of insulin by the pancreas is enhanced. In addition, a decrease in its level inhibits the secretion of insulin. In the realization of the effects of this substance, the main role is played by its interaction with a specific receptor, which is localized on the plasma membranes of cells, and the formation of the insulin receptor complex. This receptor in combination with insulin begins to penetrate into the cell, where it affects the phospholation of intracellular proteins. Subsequent intracellular reactions to date are not fully understood.
Therapy for diabetes
Insulin is considered the main specific medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, as it reduces hyperglycemia, replenishes the supply of glycogen in the liver cells and muscles, reduces glucose formation, softens diabetic lipemia, and normalizes the general condition of the patient. Insulin for medical use is obtained from the pancreas of pigs and cattle. There is a method for the chemical production of insulin, but currently it is inaccessible. Biotechnological methods for the production of human insulin have been developed. Obtained by genetic engineering methods, insulin absolutely corresponds to the amino acid series of human insulin.
In cases where this substance is obtained from animal glands, various impurities (glucagon, proinsulin, proteins, self-statin, polypeptides, etc.) can be observed in the product as a result of insufficient purification. Inadequately purified foods can provoke a variety of side effects.
Pork pancreas insulin is more popular today. Crystalline human insulin has also been widely used.
The activity of this substance is determined biologically. For one unit of action (international unit), the activity of 0.04082 mg of insulin is taken.
Before considering how insulin affects the body and the side effects of this substance, we find out in which cases it is prescribed.
Indications for appointment
Indications for the appointment is the presence in the body of progressive forms of diabetes insulin-dependent type. In small doses, it can be used in the treatment of certain liver pathologies. If necessary, it is possible to use such drugs in the treatment of mental and neuropsychiatric diseases.
Insulin may have the following indications for use:
- treatment and prevention of acidosis;
- body depletion prevention;
- thyrotoxicosis;
- furunculosis;
- diabetic dermopathy;
- urticaria, eczema, etc.
With alcoholism and schizophrenia
The use of insulin in the treatment of alcoholism and certain types of schizophrenia has shown a good result. During the treatment of schizophrenia, insulinocomatous therapy is prescribed, in which a dose of insulin is introduced into the patient's body that is not capable of causing hypoglycemic shock. In some situations, drugs containing insulin are administered to patients during the relief of nervous system depletion.
Contraindications and side effects of insulin will be presented below.
When is insulin contraindicated?
Insulin has some limitations and contraindications for use. The following pathological conditions are included in the list of contraindications:
- pancreatitis
- hepatitis;
- nephritis;
- the presence of calculi in the kidneys and the period of exacerbation of kidney stone disease;
- decompensated heart disease;
- digestive ulcer.
In addition to the above diseases, insulin is contraindicated in the following cases:
- the presence in a patient with diabetes mellitus of an insulin-dependent type of hypersensitivity to synthetic insulins;
- hypoglycemia or prerequisites for its occurrence;
Special recommendations
A relative contraindication to the use of these medications is the presence of severe forms of immediate allergy to drugs in which insulin is present.
Many medications in which insulin is present are not recommended for the treatment of diabetes during pregnancy and lactation. At this time, medications that are made on the basis of insulin of animal origin should be used.
Side effects of insulin
Side effects that occur during the use of insulin are manifested in cases of overdose during the injection. In this case, an increase in blood levels of a substance may be observed. This can contribute to the development of a state of hypoglycemia, which leads to hypoglycemic shock.
This is the main side effect of insulin on the human body, but there are others.
Increasing its level contributes to increased sweating, dizziness, increased secretory activity of the salivary glands and the development of shortness of breath. With a pronounced overdose and without the timely intake of drugs or foods high in carbohydrates, loss of consciousness and seizures can occur. Subsequent deterioration provokes hypoglycemic coma.
How to prevent this?
To eliminate the symptoms of an overdose, you need to eat 100 g of white bread, a few tablespoons of sugar or a cup of sweet tea, you can eat an apple.
When severe shock symptoms appear, the patient must inject glucose intravenously. If necessary, you can additionally use subcutaneous administration of adrenaline.
Side effects of insulin should be known to every diabetic.
Some caution is required when using these synthetic drugs for patients with diabetes mellitus, especially when they develop coronary insufficiency and when cerebrovascular disorders occur. In the case of the use of prolonged types of insulin preparations, a systematic monitoring of the patient's urine and blood condition and determination of the sugar level in them is required. This study will help you understand what time will be optimal for administering a drug to minimize side effects of insulin.
To administer insulin-based drugs, special insulin syringes or pen syringes are used, which depends on the type of insulin used in insulin therapy.
How to use the substance to avoid the side effects of insulin in diabetes?
Mode of application
In most cases, insulin-based drugs are administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly. When a coma occurs, the drug is administered via intravenous injection.
The required dosage of insulin is determined, as a rule, individually. The average dosage required for insulin therapy can range from 10 to 40 units.
When diabetic coma occurs per day, up to 100 units of the drug can be administered subcutaneously, and when using intravenous methods, no more than 50 units. In other cases, the dosage of the drug should be from 6 to 10 units.
When injecting, a special syringe is used, which makes it possible to administer the entire volume of the drug without a residue, which helps to avoid errors when dosing the medication.
The daily dose is injected into the body in accordance with the type of drug used, taking into account the recommendations of the doctor, as well as in accordance with specially designed schemes.
The article provides detailed information about insulin preparations, side effects and methods of use.