Normal insulin levels in men. Symptoms and manifestations of elevated insulin in the blood

The date: 28.03.2019

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What does high blood insulin mean? The answer to this question is of interest to many patients who have been tested for insulin. The hormone, which is produced in the islets of Langerhans, is responsible for lowering the level of glucose in the blood, ensuring its transition from the bloodstream to the tissues. Both low and high levels of insulin in the blood disrupt metabolism, cause negative consequences in the body, so the task of the patient, physicians is to maintain normal level insulin folk remedies or medicines.

Insulin levels in the blood

Low and high insulin in the blood - what does it mean, what are their indicators? Why does insulin level rise? Physicians have established that the boundaries of the hormone content vary from 3 to -25 mcU / ml. So, the rate of insulin in the blood in women and men is almost the same - from 3 to 25 mcU / ml. The norm of insulin in children and adolescents ranges from 3 to 20 mcU / ml.

A normal indicator, but higher than the norm for women, may be in pregnant women - 3 to 27 mcU / ml. A lot of insulin can be in the elderly - 6-35 mcU / ml. If the indicators fluctuate in the range of these figures, the person is healthy. Low insulin levels are observed in diabetes, insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes. Insulin is elevated diabetes 2 types.

Causes of an increase in insulin in the blood

A high insulin level is most often associated with the intake of carbohydrate foods. An excess of the hormone can be caused by fasting, excessive physical exertion, taking certain medications, stressful situations. To determine the level of the hormone, you need to donate blood from a vein.

It is known that insulin rises sharply 2 hours after eating, so in order to determine the amount of insulin, the sample must be taken on an empty stomach. For analysis, blood is taken from a vein twice:

the first time - on an empty stomach;
the second time - two hours after the patient drank a portion of glucose.

Such a study shows the performance of the pancreas. According to the results of the analysis, it is possible to establish the type of diabetes mellitus. It is no secret that the cause of the increased content of the hormone can be various diseases. So, for women, high blood insulin can indicate many pathologies of other organs, such as liver, obesity, Cushing's syndrome, polycystic ovaries. High insulin in the blood can be an indicator of acromegaly, neoplasms in the pancreas or adrenal glands, psycho-emotional disorders, constant stress, depressive states. A large amount of the hormone in the blood can be observed with an overdose of the administered drug.

Many patients who first heard about the increased content of insulin are interested in the question of what hyperinsulinemia is. Is this already diabetes mellitus or just a harbinger of the disease? In a child, elevated insulin with normal sugar indicates a predisposition to type 2 diabetes. If insulin is elevated and glucose levels are normal, this may also signal a decrease in glucagon production or pancreatic tumors.

Symptoms of increased insulin production

What signs should alert a person, especially those who are overweight, so as not to miss the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, associated with the fact that the insulin level is exceeded:

constant fatigue, excessive sweating;
shortness of breath, even with minimal physical exertion;
muscle pain, periodic cramps in the lower extremities;
lack of sufficient feeling of satiety;
pruritus, poor wound healing.

Consequences of high blood insulin

Excess insulin in the body causes negative effects:

lowers blood sugar levels;
leads to the appearance of excess weight, obesity - due to high insulin, the accumulation of fat mass occurs;
an excess of insulin causes the growth of benign cells, which eventually degenerate into malignant tumors;
lack of energy leads to the appearance of rapid fatigue, irritability, nervous behavior, fits of rage;
capillaries, vision, kidneys suffer, atherosclerosis develops;
wounds heal slowly, poorly, symptoms of a diabetic foot, gangrene appear;
reduces strength bone tissue- bones become brittle, brittle;
dandruff, oily skin, acne appear.

Hypertension and excess insulin often accompany each other. Hypertension contributes to the development side effects in the form of heart attacks, strokes. The consequences of elevated insulin adversely affect the work of the entire of cardio-vascular system.

Prevention and curative therapy

Treatment of hyperisulinemia rests on three pillars: drug therapy, diet, exercise. Having determined the causes of increased insulin, the doctor makes certain appointments.

Medical treatment

Normally, 70% of carbohydrates go to the needs of body cells, 30% are stored in reserve. But if the body suffers from the fact that insulin levels are elevated, then only 30% of carbohydrates are used by cells, 70% go to the formation of adipose tissue. Cells turn off receptors, stop responding to the hormone, so glucose begins to accumulate in the blood - non-insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes develops. An increase in blood glucose levels causes severe dehydration, which leads to a profound metabolic disorder, sometimes to death.

How to lower insulin in the blood to a relative norm? At high insulin drugs are prescribed to lower the level of this hormone in the blood. To treat excess insulin in the blood, medications are needed that reduce:

pressure that reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes (calcium antagonists, ACE inhibitors);
metabolic components that improve glucose levels, removing excess cholesterol from the body;
appetite (enzymes that break down fats, serotonin inhibitors).

Treatment is prescribed only by a doctor, after a clinical examination and examination. If insulin is elevated and glucose levels are normal, this may also signal a decrease in glucagon production or pancreatic tumors. Pancreatic tumors require surgical treatment.

High insulin with low sugar means the likelihood of hypoglycemia attacks, therefore, a hospital cannot be avoided - only in a hospital setting can a patient be given a glucose solution. Acute stage hyperinsulinism will require the administration of glucagon or epinephrine. Home remedies for lowering insulin include diet and exercise.

Diet food

How to lower insulin in the blood? Stick to the diet prescribed by your doctor. Proper Diet, well-chosen nutrition with elevated insulin helps to reduce its level, prevent diabetes or its consequences, adjust weight, lower blood pressure, improve blood counts. If insulin is elevated in the blood, the menu for the week should be developed very carefully, including low-fat dairy products, cereals, lean meats, eggs, raw or boiled vegetables. Fruits are recommended large quantity sugar and vitamin C, which is abundant in apples, kiwi, currants, cherries.

The menu for type 2 diabetes should become a permanent, not a temporary measure, because only in this way can positive results in treatment be achieved. Nutrition should be fractional, in small portions, but sufficient for saturation and lack of hunger.

Basic rules of rational nutrition that reduce insulin in the blood. Need:

control the amount of carbohydrates in food, properly distribute them throughout the day.
reduce portion sizes, count the calorie content of food;
reduce the amount of salt consumed, which only harms the body;
give up preservatives, canned food, fast food, other products harmful to the body;
forget about alcoholic beverages, lemonades, drink only natural juices, water;
use sweeteners instead of sugar (supermarkets have sections for diabetics).

Physiotherapy

Therapeutic exercise and diabetes do not contradict each other. Physical exercises will not replace treatment, but they will be very useful and will help a person, if not to defeat the disease, then significantly improve his health, be normal. A set of special exercises should be agreed with an endocrinologist.

Before you start exercising exercise, it is necessary to do an electrocardiogram to assess the condition of the heart. When performing exercises, do not forget to count the pulse, control blood pressure and insulin and glucose levels. If the pressure and heart rate are elevated, you need to stop exercising and consult a doctor. Physical exercise:

increase the sensitivity of cells to the hormone;
improve blood circulation, the work of the cardiovascular system;
reduce the risk of complications, protect against heart attacks, strokes.

Elevated insulin levels are the most early sign heart attacks and strokes.

Before classes, you should definitely eat at least a couple of sandwiches to protect yourself from hypoglycemia. It is also recommended to reduce the dose of diabetes pills and the dose of insulin. It is advisable to carry out the first physical education classes under the supervision of doctors so that you can monitor your health, adjust the dose, types and duration of exercises.

Symptoms of excess insulin are precursors and symptoms of type 2 diabetes. If there are doubts about health, it is necessary to take tests for insulin and glucose in order to establish a diagnosis, start timely treatment. The sooner treatment is started, the greater the chance of a speedy recovery.

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Insulin is the most important hormone for maintaining normal metabolism in the human body. The norm of insulin in the blood, obtained during the analysis of the hormone, can explain many of the processes associated with metabolism.

Very often, the result of the analysis above the norm can explain the presence of excess weight. If the level is below normal, there may be clinical picture with poor digestibility of carbohydrates and, as a result, the weight will be insufficient. Many women are interested in what is the normal level of insulin in women? The first thing to know - Men and women have exactly the same values, with the exception of pregnant women and children.

The only pattern is that men, according to statistics, have a higher risk of developing diabetes after the age of forty, due to a greater propensity for an unhealthy lifestyle. Therefore, men should carefully monitor the health of the pancreas. The action of insulin is directed to the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. Its mechanism of action is simple - after eating a meal, it begins to increase significantly with glucose, roughly speaking, the higher the glucose, the higher the insulin will be. In order to regulate elevated glucose levels, insulin is increased to absorb the carbohydrates received, and also so that the cells can receive sugar. Thanks to this hormone, glucose, potassium, essential and non-essential amino acids are transported.

Norms of indicators

First of all, people with suspected diabetes mellitus receive a referral for a hormone test. Thanks to the indicators, it is possible to reveal a more accurate picture in the diagnosis of the disease (what type of diabetes, how neglected the situation is).

in a healthy person, the indicators will be in the range of 3 - 26 microunits per milliliter;
in children, the indicators start from 3 to 19 microunits per milliliter (slightly lower than in adults);
normal values, higher than in the normal state, in pregnant women are considered to be from 6 to 28 mcU per milliliter, and in the elderly, the norm starts from 6 to 35 mcU per milliliter.

Hormone levels fluctuate throughout the day. Besides, this indicator changes in the female during puberty, in women. host hormonal preparations. Diet can also affect the amount of insulin in women.

The following factors may indicate that the level of the hormone deviates from normal:

frequent urination,
constant desire to drink
chronic fatigue,
the skin on the palms and feet often itch,
wounds heal poorly.

If such signs appear, you should contact a specialist and undergo an examination.

How to pass the analysis

as for most hormone tests, blood is taken strictly on an empty stomach in the morning;
the day before the test, you need to exclude intense physical activity;
12 hours before the delivery of the hormone, you can’t eat food, it’s forbidden to drink tea, coffee or juice in the morning, you can only have regular still water. The minimum period between the test and food consumption is 8 hours;
also 2 days before the scheduled date in the laboratory, you need to stop eating fatty foods
on the eve you can not drink alcoholic beverages;
2-3 hours before the test, you can not smoke;
girls can take a test for this hormone regardless of the day menstrual cycle, since insulin is not a sex hormone, and the date of the cycle will not affect the result in any way.

Elevated insulin levels

A value above normal can be caused by:

constant exhausting physical activity (this is especially true for the fair sex, who likes to torment himself with unnecessary stress in the gym);
chronic experiences and stressful situations;
certain pathologies of the liver and biliary tract;
type 2 diabetes mellitus;
increased levels of growth hormone in the body (acromegaly);
Cushing's syndrome, obesity;
mnsulinoma (a neoplasm that can distort the indicators in an overestimated direction);
dystrophic mitotonia (neuromuscular conduction disease);
violation of metabolic processes;
failure of the pituitary gland;
polycystic ovary syndrome (exclusively female disease);
benign neoplasms in the adrenal glands;
diseases of the pancreas.

What can a low level of values indicate?

A low level sometimes indicates:

type 1 diabetes;
permanent sedentary lifestyle, especially in men;
problems in the work of the pineal gland;
excessive physical activity (especially on an empty stomach);
daily consumption of excessive amounts of sugar and flour;
severe nervous strain;
chronic course of an infectious disease.

Insulin resistance index and why it is carried out

The Insulin Resistance Index is a specific test that is performed to detect insulin resistance. Before passing it, excess physical activity is excluded so that the resulting index after testing is not distorted. Insulin resistance is a violation of the biological response in body tissues to insulin received from outside or produced inside.

To get the indicators of this index, you need to inject insulin intravenously on an empty stomach at the rate of 0.1 unit per 1 kilogram of body weight. After the administration of the substance, it is necessary to measure the level of glucose in the body every minute for fifteen minutes (short test). Or you can measure the glucose level every 5 minutes for 40 minutes from the moment the drug is administered intravenously.

The long version of the test is to measure the glucose level every 10 minutes for an hour. Testing is open to everyone, including men and children. Suspicions of insulin resistance can cause such factors:

obesity or intense fat deposition in the abdominal region (waist, sides and abdomen);
protein detection in urinalysis;
chronically high blood pressure;
poor levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.

The most obvious symptom of all is fat deposition on the waist and abdomen. Knowing your insulin resistance index will help you avoid many health problems in the future. The insulin resistance index is recommended for everyone over 40, especially men, because they are genetically prone to abdominal obesity. Moreover, after 40, physical activity in people decreases sharply.

Insulin is a hormone that affects all metabolic processes in the body, but its main function is to regulate glycemic levels.

At normal operation pancreatic cells in the islets of Langegrans, insulin secretion occurs constantly in small amounts, after a meal, the secretion of the hormone increases. After the connection of insulin with receptors on the membrane of muscle, liver, fat cells, glucose from the blood passes into the cells.

In type 1 diabetes, the blood contains little insulin, since the pancreas cannot produce it, the second type of diabetes occurs with normal or elevated insulin levels, but it does not affect glycemia, as tissue resistance develops to it.

Effect of insulin on metabolism

The hormone insulin carries glucose into the cells, providing the body with energy, which is released during its running-in inside the cells. In addition, it delivers amino acids (especially valine and leucine), potassium, magnesium, and phosphate ions to tissues.

Insulin has the ability to activate the main enzymes that are involved in the use of glucose in the processes of glycolysis and the formation of glycogen, slowing down the formation of glucose in liver cells. Due to such effects in the blood, the content of glucose, which is lowered from food, decreases.

For the body, insulin is the main anabolic hormone, as it enhances protein synthesis and inhibits its breakdown. The influence of insulin on fat metabolism fails in the form of an increase in the synthesis of fatty acids, the conversion of glucose into triglycerides in the liver, and a decrease in the supply of lipids to the blood.

Sugar level

Insulin in healthy people is secreted from the pancreas both outside the meal - basal secretion, and in response to the entry of glucose into the blood - stimulated. At the same time, its content in the blood is from 3 to 25 μU / ml. To correctly determine the level of insulin, such an analysis is carried out only on an empty stomach.

feature female body is the change in insulinemia with fluctuations hormonal background. Therefore, the rate of insulin in the blood of women during pregnancy is from 6 to 28 mcU / ml.

Insulin deviations from the norm in women in the blood can be during puberty and when taking oral contraceptives.

To exclude the causes of incorrect readings, you need to prepare for a study on the level of insulin in the blood. For this, the following conditions are met:

For a day, exclude alcohol, fatty foods, physical activity.
8-10 hours before the study, you can not eat, drink coffee, tea or juice.
On the day of the analysis, you can drink ordinary non-carbonated water.
Before the study, you can not smoke for 2-3 hours.

Insulin abnormalities in women of childbearing age are not associated with the period of the menstrual cycle, so you can analyze on any day.

Decreased levels of insulin in the blood

Most often, the causes of a decrease in insulin in the blood are associated with damage to pancreatic cells during inflammatory processes(pancreatitis), tumors, or destruction of beta cells due to impaired immunity. In type 1 diabetes, the main factor in the absence of insulin is the development of an autoimmune reaction.

The long course of type 2 diabetes, taking hypoglycemic tablets that stimulate insulin secretion can lead over time to the depletion of pancreatic reserves and lead to the need for treatment with insulin preparations.

Low insulin levels cause fasting blood glucose levels to rise and low levels in cells, so the body is chronically deficient in energy. In response to food intake, there is no additional release of insulin, which causes even more hyperglycemia, accompanied by such symptoms:

frequent, copious excretion urine.
Increased thirst.
Constant feeling of hunger.
Emaciation.
Dryness, itching of the skin, mucous membranes.
Frequent infectious diseases.
Slow wound healing.

To treat these symptoms, insulin is used, which is injected. At the same time, long-acting drugs are used to recreate basal secretion and short insulins before the main meals.

Thus, they try to bring the amount and rhythm of insulin into the blood closer to the physiological ones.

Increase in blood insulin

Elevated insulin in the blood has a negative effect on the state of fat metabolism and the cardiovascular system. This is because high levels of this hormone block lipase, an enzyme that breaks down triglycerides in the body, so fat mass increases.

In addition, the formation of new lipid molecules is enhanced in the body, which leads to an excessive intake of cholesterol into the blood with its deposition on the walls of blood vessels. Deformation and narrowing of the lumen of the arteries and small capillaries are manifested in a decrease in blood flow in the tissues. Such changes are characteristic of atherosclerosis.

The reasons for the increase in insulin in the blood may be associated with chronic overeating, insufficient levels, obesity, as well as the influence of hormones of the endocrine system.

If insulin is elevated, then the following pathological conditions develop in the body:

The risk of heart attack and stroke increases.
Stimulates the growth of tumors.
Vision deteriorates.
There is an accumulation of fat in the subcutaneous tissue, around internal organs.
The blood pressure rises.
progresses bronchial asthma and bronchitis.
Impotence, infertility.

The reasons that lead to the fact that insulin in the blood is increased may be associated with the acquisition of tissue resistance to this hormone. Such processes are called insulin resistance and are manifested in the absence of a response to insulin. Insulin secretion is increased to overcome hyperglycemia.

Clinical syndrome X is a combination of resistance to insulin-dependent glucose uptake, obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Insulin resistance can be due to the production of defective insulin, a reduced number of receptors for it, at the level of transportation of glucose into the cell, as well as the destruction of insulin receptors.

Obesity may cause insulin resistance more often than other causes.

How to lower high insulin levels?

In order not to cause excessive stimulation of the insulin apparatus, it is recommended to reduce the main meals to 2-3 times a day, snacks to carry out products that have a low insulin index. Should be done once a week fasting days or partial fasting.

Periodic refusal of food leads to the use of fat as an energy source, which does not require the release of insulin. Such preventive measures can only be carried out under constant medical supervision, since complications may develop in patients with diabetes mellitus.

The restriction in the diet of foods that have a high insulin index is relevant only in type 2 diabetes mellitus with a proven increase in insulin levels (when analyzing on an empty stomach). For most products, the coincidence of the glycemic and insulin index was noted, except for milk and dairy products.

The following foods can increase insulin levels:

Confectionery, sweets.
Boiled potatoes.
Bread products.
Peeled rice, bananas.
Legumes.
Yogurt, milk, ice cream.
Sweet fruits.

In this regard, all patients with a tendency to, and especially with type 2 diabetes, are not recommended to combine dairy products with carbohydrates and not consume them in the afternoon.

Available to the cells of the body, as a result of which they receive the energy necessary for the functioning. The importance of insulin in the body is best known to diabetics who are deficient in this hormone. The level of the hormone in the blood must be monitored by people without diabetes as a preventive measure.

Insulin is vital, without which metabolism is disturbed, cells and tissues cannot function normally. It is being developed. In the gland there are areas with beta cells that synthesize insulin. Such areas are called islets of Langerhans. First, an inactive form of insulin is formed, which passes through several stages and turns into an active form.

It is necessary to control the level of insulin in the blood, the norm of which can vary depending not only on age, but also on food intake and other factors.

Insulin acts as a kind of conductor. Sugar enters the body with food, in the intestines it is absorbed from food into the blood, and glucose is released from it, which is an important source of energy for the body. However, glucose by itself does not enter cells, with the exception of insulin-dependent tissues, which include brain cells, blood vessels, blood cells, the retina, and kidneys. The rest of the cells need insulin, which makes their membrane permeable to glucose.

If the level of glucose in the blood rises, insulin-independent tissues begin to absorb it in large quantities, therefore, when blood sugar is greatly exceeded, brain cells, eyesight, and kidneys are the first to suffer. They experience a huge load, absorbing excess glucose.

Several important functions of insulin:

It allows glucose to enter cells where it is broken down into water, carbon dioxide and energy. Energy is used by the cell, and carbon dioxide is excreted and enters the lungs.
Glucose is synthesized by cells. Insulin blocks the formation of new glucose molecules in the liver, reducing the load on the organ.
Insulin allows you to store glucose for the future in the form of glycogen. In the case of starvation and sugar deficiency, glycogen breaks down and is converted into glucose.
Insulin makes the cells of the body permeable not only to glucose, but also to some amino acids.
Insulin is produced in the body throughout the day, but its production increases when blood glucose levels rise (in healthy body), while eating. Disruption of insulin production affects the entire metabolism in the body, but mainly - the metabolism of carbohydrates.

Diagnosis and norm depending on age

Diagnosis of insulin is usually prescribed by a doctor, but it is possible to check the level of insulin in the blood, as well as the level of glucose, without indications, for prevention. As a rule, fluctuations in the level of this hormone are noticeable and sensitive. The person notices different unpleasant symptoms and signs of disruption of the internal organs.

Insulin rate:

The norm of the hormone in the blood of women and children ranges from 3 to 20-25 mcU / ml.
In men - up to 25 mcU / ml.
During pregnancy, the tissues and cells of the body need more energy, more glucose enters the body, which means that insulin levels increase. The norm in pregnant women is the level of insulin 6-27 mcU / ml.
In older people, this figure is also often elevated. Pathology is considered an indicator below 3 and above 35 mcU / ml.

The level of the hormone fluctuates in the blood throughout the day, and also has wide reference values in diabetics, since the level of the hormone depends on the stage of the disease, treatment, type of diabetes.

As a rule, in diabetes, a blood test for sugar is taken, the determination of insulin in the blood is required for more serious cases of diabetes with complications and for various hormonal disorders.

The rules for taking blood for insulin in serum do not differ from the standard rules for preparation:

The analysis is given on an empty stomach. Before blood sampling, it is not recommended to eat, drink, smoke, brush your teeth, use mouth rinses. Can I have a drink pure water without gas one hour before the examination, but the last meal should be no later than 8 hours before blood donation.
During the examination, the patient should not take any medication. It is recommended to conduct an analysis a couple of weeks after the end of taking all the drugs. If it is impossible to cancel the drugs for health reasons, the entire list of medications and dosages taken is included in the analysis.
A day or two before visiting the laboratory, it is recommended to give up “harmful” food (deep-fried, too spicy, fatty meat, heavily salted food), spices, alcohol, fast food, carbonated sugary drinks.
It is advisable to avoid physical and emotional stress on the eve of the examination. Before donating blood, you need to rest for 10 minutes.

Excess insulin can be observed after a meal, but even in this case, the hormone level should be within the reference values. A pathologically high level of insulin leads to irreversible consequences, disrupts the functioning of all vital body systems.

Symptoms of elevated insulin typically include nausea when hungry, increased appetite, fainting, trembling, sweating, tachycardia.

Physiological conditions (pregnancy, eating, physical activity) lead to a slight increase in the level of the hormone. The causes of a pathological increase in the level of this indicator are most often various serious diseases:

insulinoma. Insulinoma is most often benign tumor islets of Langerhans. The tumor stimulates the production of insulin and leads to hypoglycemia. The prognosis is usually favorable. The tumor is removed surgically, after which almost 80% of patients have a complete recovery.
Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is accompanied by high levels of insulin in the blood, but it is useless for the absorption of glucose. This type of diabetes is called non-insulin dependent. It occurs due to heredity or overweight.
. This disease is also called gigantism. The pituitary gland begins to produce an excess amount of growth hormone. For the same reason, the production of other hormones, such as insulin, is enhanced.
Cushing's syndrome. With this syndrome, the level of glucocorticoids in the blood increases. People with Cushing's syndrome have problems with excess weight, fat in the goiter, various skin diseases, muscle weakness.
Polycystic ovaries. Women with PCOS experience a variety of hormonal disorders leading to an increase in insulin levels in the blood.

A large amount of insulin leads to the destruction of blood vessels, overweight, hypertension, increase, in some cases to oncological diseases, since insulin stimulates the growth of cells, including tumor cells.

Insulin in the blood is low

Lack of insulin leads to an increase in blood sugar levels and a decrease in its penetration into cells. As a result, the tissues of the body begin to starve from lack. People with low insulin levels experience increased thirst, sudden bouts of hunger, irritability, frequent urges to urination.

The lack of insulin in the body is observed in the following conditions and diseases:

Type 1 diabetes. Often, type 1 diabetes occurs due to a hereditary predisposition, as a result of which the pancreas cannot cope with the production of the hormone. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is acute and leads to a rapid deterioration of the patient's condition. Most often, diabetics experience severe hunger and thirst, do not tolerate fasting, but do not gain weight. They are lethargic, tired, bad smell from mouth. This form of diabetes is not age-related and often manifests itself in childhood.
Binge eating. Insulin deficiency can occur in people who overuse flour products and sweets. The wrong diet can also lead to diabetes.
Infectious diseases. Some chronic and acute infectious diseases lead to the destruction of the tissues of the islets of Langerhans and the death of beta cells responsible for the production of insulin. The body is deficient in the hormone, which leads to various complications.
Nervous and physical exhaustion. With constant stress and unbearable physical exertion, it is consumed a large number of glucose, and insulin levels may fall.

More information about insulin can be found in the video:

In the vast majority of cases, it is the first type that leads to a lack of a hormone. It often leads to various complications that are life-threatening. The consequences of this form of diabetes include hypoglycemia (a dangerous and sharp drop in blood glucose levels), which can lead to hypoglycemic coma and death, ketoacidosis (increased blood levels of metabolic products and ketone bodies), leading to disruption of all vital organs of the body .

With a long course of the disease, other consequences may occur over time, such as diseases of the retina, ulcers and boils on the legs, trophic ulcers, limb weakness and chronic pain.

For what healthy person, who is doing well, to control the level of hormones in the blood? It would seem that the state of health is excellent, nothing bothers, so why? The answer is that a normal amount and balance of hormones, including insulin, prolongs life. And an overdose or deficiency of this pancreatic hormone leads to obesity, aging and diabetes. If a person takes care of himself and wants to stay young and active as long as possible, he just needs to keep this important substance for the body under control. It is impossible to remain healthy and energetic when “surpluses” of the hormone wander in the blood or when, on the contrary, it is extremely small. Fortunately, this process can be controlled.

Functions in the body

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Its main task is the delivery of glucose, amino acids, fats and potassium to the cells of the body. Also, its functions include maintaining a sufficient level of glucose in human blood and regulating carbohydrate balance. It happens like this: when the amount of glucose increases to 100 mg / deciliter, the pancreas turns on and begins to actively produce insulin. This substance binds excess glucose and transports it to a kind of storage - muscle or adipose tissue. Once there, glucose is converted into energy or converted into fat and stored in the body.

In normal amounts, the hormone insulin is one of the most important regulators of vitality. important processes in the body. Namely:

it promotes growth muscle mass: activates ribosomes that are responsible for protein synthesis. And protein, as you know, is the main building material for muscles;
prevents the destruction of muscle fibers. The anti-catabolic (catabolism - the breakdown process) properties of insulin are no less important than its anabolic (creative) properties. So this hormone protects and renews muscle tissues;
supplies the cells of our body with amino acids that are necessary for their functioning;
stimulates the activity of enzymes responsible for the formation of glycogen - a substance that is the main form of glucose storage in the cells of the body.

Everything is fine when the amount of this hormone does not exceed the level of maximum permissible limits, but if its indicators go off scale, it is very harmful to the body and eventually leads to obesity, type 2 diabetes, disorders of the cardiovascular system and other consequences. Negative effects of "high" insulin:

blocks lipase. Lipase is an enzyme that is responsible for the breakdown of fats (triglycerides). If there is no lipase, the body does not burn adipose tissue, but accumulates it. As a result, body weight increases;
enhances lipogenesis - this is the synthesis of fatty acids. Intensive lipogenesis entails an increase in triglycerides, which activate the work sebaceous glands, soon because of this, the skin and hair become oily, acne, seborrhea, dandruff appear;
destroys arteries, causing atherosclerosis circulatory system. As a result of lipid metabolism disorders on the walls blood vessels cholesterol plaques are formed, then there is a deformation of the artery wall and a narrowing of the lumen in it. Arteriosclerosis can lead to coronary disease hearts;
increases blood pressure due to its vasodilating properties. And when there is a lot of it in the body, blood pressure increases. Exactly how this happens has yet to be determined. Most likely, the hormone affects the kidneys and nervous system, which cause the vessels to constrict and therefore the pressure rises;
stimulates the growth of cancer cells. Therefore, people with diabetes are at risk for cancer.

Always in the background high level sugar, a person can develop such diseases as: heart attack, stroke, myopia, asthma, bronchitis, inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, impotence, trophic ulcers. To avoid such severe consequences, it is necessary to control insulin levels in the body.

The norms of the content of the hormone in the blood, deviations from these norms and methods for determining the corresponding indicators

The norm of insulin is from 3 to 20 mcU / ml. If the indicator fluctuates within the acceptable range, the person is healthy. An important point: the analysis for the content of this hormone in the bloodstream is carried out on an empty stomach. After eating, the pancreas begins to function actively, producing insulin, so its content in the blood will be higher than usual. In children, the level of this substance in the blood does not change after eating, until the time of adolescence puberty.

If the amount of insulin is significantly higher than normal for a long time, it can be a health time bomb. Over time, concomitant diseases of internal organs or entire systems of the body's vital activity will develop, and these processes will not be reversible. A high level of the hormone in the blood indicates that the pancreas produces a lot of insulin, but due to some kind of malfunction, it is not able to perform its functions. The reasons for such a violation can be different: stress, heavy physical exertion, pancreatic disease, diabetes mellitus.

At elevated level insulin in humans, the following symptoms appear: thirst, itching of the skin and mucous membranes, lethargy, weakness, fatigue, frequent urination, a good appetite with actual weight loss and poor healing of skin wounds.

If the concentration of the hormone in the blood is below normal, this indicates that the body is tired of prolonged physical activity or the person has type 1 diabetes. Insulin in diabetes mellitus of this type is underestimated. Symptoms of a low amount of the hormone can be the same as with high insulin, but they are added: trembling, strong heartbeat, pallor, restlessness, irritability, fainting, sweating, and sudden, intense hunger.

Analysis for the content of this beneficial substance in the blood is necessary to assess the work of the pancreas. Any failure in its work leads to an increase or decrease in the level of the hormone in the bloodstream. To determine it in the laboratory, two types of analysis are popular. The first is blood sampling on an empty stomach (more than 8 hours should pass from the last meal). The second is the oral glucose tolerance test. The patient drinks on an empty stomach a solution of 75 g of glucose dissolved in 250-300 ml of water, and after 2 hours his blood is taken for analysis and the sugar level is measured in it. After that, a conclusion is made about the amount of insulin in the bloodstream.

The most accurate picture of a person's condition can be obtained by combining these two studies: blood is taken on an empty stomach in the morning, after which a glucose solution is drunk and a second analysis is carried out two hours later. The results of both of these studies give comprehensive information about the functioning of the pancreas. Before conducting such a detailed testing, it is advisable to follow a diet for three days.

You can measure the level of sugar in the body at home, but this requires a glucometer. This is special device to determine the amount of glucose in the blood, you can buy it at a pharmacy or in a medical equipment store. To get the most accurate results, you must adhere to the following rules:

measurements are taken on an empty stomach;
before using the glucometer, you must carefully read the instructions, if something is not clear there, ask a specialist for clarification;
wash your hands thoroughly - this is necessary not only for disinfection, but also to improve blood flow;
it is better to take blood from the pads of three fingers: middle, ring and little fingers;
to reduce pain, it is recommended that the puncture be done not in the center of the pad, but a little on the side. If you have to measure sugar constantly, the puncture site needs to be changed, this will help to avoid inflammation or thickening of the skin;
wipe off the first drop of blood with a dry cotton swab, and place the next one on the test strip;
insert the strip into the glucometer, and you will see the result of the analysis on the display.

According to the measurement data, it is already possible to draw a conclusion about the level of insulin in the blood.

How can you lower your insulin levels?

An excess of this substance in the blood leads to disorders and a number of diseases of the body that are difficult to cure. To avoid negative consequences, the level of the hormone needs to be lowered in time. Here is what you need to do for this:

You should consciously reduce the number of meals to 2-3 times a day. If you eat twice a day (skip lunch), then the break between breakfast and dinner will be approximately 10-12 hours. Of these, 4 hours will be required for the digestion process and 8 hours for the liver to complete the detoxification of decay products.
If possible, try not eating at all for one day a week. This will reduce the amount of pancreatic hormone, as a result of which the body will get the necessary energy for work from fat accumulations. As a result, a person will lose weight a little, feel better and lighter. Intermittent fasting also triggers genetic mechanisms aimed at cell repair. This kind of adaptation is designed to prolong the performance of all organs during hunger. It is noticed that such physiological mechanism prevents the development of cancer. Tumor cells do not tolerate the lack of food, so starvation in fact is the prevention of cancer.
Pay attention to the insulin index (AI) of the product. This index differs from the glycemic index (GI) in that the GI indicates how much glucose is contained in this product, and AI means the amount of insulin released when this product is eaten. Glycemic and insulin index are not always interconnected. For example, milk has an AI that is 2 times higher than the GI. So there are foods that have a high AI on their own, regardless of their low GI. Adjust your diet based on this information.
Exercise about 3-4 times a week for 1.5 hours a day will help increase sensitivity to the hormone. And you should separate strength training from aerobic.
It is desirable that foods with a large amount of fiber predominate in the diet. But the consumption of carbohydrates is better to limit.

Measurement of the level of this substance is carried out on an empty stomach.

For the proper functioning of our body, it is necessary to maintain a normal level of insulin in the blood. Any permanent deviation from the norm can lead to serious consequences. Therefore, it is so important to control the amount of the hormone. A little physical activity, the right diet and the correction of insulin levels will help prolong life and avoid many diseases.