An insulin jab works by helping to move sugar from your blood into other body tissues, where it can be used for energy. It also stops your liver from making more sugar.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Insulin's Role in Glucose Regulation
Insulin is a hormone naturally produced by the pancreas. Its primary job is to regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels. When you eat, your body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, which enters your bloodstream. Insulin acts like a key, allowing glucose to enter cells, where it can be used for energy.
How Insulin Jabs Help
- Moving Sugar Out of the Bloodstream: Insulin injections, or jabs, supplement the body's natural insulin production (or lack thereof in some individuals). The injected insulin facilitates the transfer of glucose from the blood into cells throughout the body, specifically muscle, fat, and liver cells.
- Energy Production: Once inside the cells, glucose is used as fuel for various bodily functions. This process effectively lowers the glucose level in your bloodstream and increases the supply of energy available to cells.
- Inhibiting Liver Glucose Production: In addition to facilitating glucose uptake, insulin inhibits the liver's production of glucose. The liver is capable of releasing stored glucose into the bloodstream. By inhibiting this process, insulin contributes to keeping blood sugar levels stable.
Key Functions of Insulin
| Function | Description |
| --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Facilitates Glucose Uptake | Insulin helps move glucose from the bloodstream into body cells. |
| Energy Supply | Glucose is used by cells for energy, leading to a decrease in blood sugar levels. |
| Inhibits Liver Sugar Release | Insulin stops the liver from releasing stored glucose into the blood, preventing a spike in blood sugar. |
Types of Insulin
It's important to note that all types of insulin—rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting—work through these mechanisms. The differences among them lie in how quickly they start working and how long their effects last.
In summary, an insulin jab works by helping to move sugar from the blood into other body tissues, where it is used for energy, and it also stops the liver from producing more sugar, as explained by the reference.
