Effect of insulin treatment on islet function

12 PAGES (6912 WORDS) Physiology Seminar
ABSTRACT
Insulin treatment is the use of insulin and similar proteins to treat diseases including diabetes and its acute
complications as an effective way of lowering blood glucose level in individuals with impaired Islet beta cell
functions. The Islets (Island) of Langerhans are small clusters of cells scattered within the pancreas of most
vertebrates to bring about the secretion of the polypeptide hormone, Insulin, which is responsible for the
evacuation of excess glucose in the blood stream which when it accumulates results in a phenomenon
known a Diabetes mellitus.
Insulin therapy is mostly required in conditions where the Islet beta cells have been destroyed, or cannot
produce enough Insulin or the body cells are unable to respond to the presence of the secreted insulin
adequately. This helps prevent further islet disorganization, improve beta cell function, improve islet insulin
content and beta cell morphology, increased insulin gene expression and synthesis and averts beta-cell
apoptosis.