5 Essential Functions of Insulin

People suffering from Diabetes have either the lack of insulin or decreased insulin activity. Insulin is a vital hormone and functions of insulin are essential for life. It is a polypeptide hormone produced by beta cells of islets of Langerhans in Pancreas. It plays an important role in energy metabolism and general growth and development of our body. 

Insulin acts in conjunction with Glucagon and other body hormones to maintain the blood glucose levels. Suboptimal glucose levels lead to either hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia both having profound implications on overall health and well being.

5 major functions of Insulin are :-

1) Glucose metabolism :- Insulin is a central figure in carbohydrate (principally glucose) metabolism. Its main function is to optimize and efficiently maintain the blood glucose levels in our body. Insulin optimizes the blood glucose levels by 3 main actions :-

    a) Decreased production of glucose - It prevents the breakdown of glycogen to glucose and thus helps in achieving proper blood glucose level as well as maintaining high energy stores. 
    b) Increased breakdown of glucose - It increases active breakdown and consumption of preexisting glucose in blood. This helps in production of high energy substances like ATP.
    c) Transport excess glucose to proper locations - Insulin also increases glucose receptors on tissues like adipose (fat) tissue and muscles thus facilitating its uptake. These tissues utilize excess glucose to create energy stores and for other purposes. 

2) Fat Regulation :- Insulin inhibits breakdown of complex fats into free fatty acids. This helps in maintaining optimal free fatty acid level in blood and conserving high energy fat stores. Fats are also a part of important body structures like nerves, cell membranes etc.

3) Protein Metabolism :- Insulin is an anabolic hormone. It is known as a hormone of abundance. Because it helps in preserving all major nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Abundance of Proteins is essential for body building. Proteins are building blocks in our body. Hence its efficient utilization is vital and insulin plays a very important role in it. It reduces protein breakdown as well as promotes its synthesis from other substances like amino acids. Insulin also increases protein synthesis by directly acting on genes.

4) Electrolyte Balance :- Insulin helps in restoring the Potassium balance by actively promoting its uptake in cells. Glucose and sodium uptake in cells are interlinked with water transport. Both these substances help maintain proper hydration. Thus by regulating blood glucose levels, insulin helps in maintaining adequate hydration and proper sodium balance.

5) Growth and Development :- Insulin due to its anabolic nature makes sure there is no scarcity of vital nutrients to body. This action is particularly important during fetal life and early childhood when there is high requirement of energy.  It also stimulates production of certain growth factors by acting on genes. Without insulin, child's body growth may become subnormal.

Next we will discuss further more about Insulin like its types, adverse effects etc. and much more. Stay tuned.