< Back

Insulin

Definition

Insulin: A 51-amino acid pancreatic hormone that plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, directly by suppressing endogenous glucose production (GLYCOGENOLYSIS; GLUCONEOGENESIS) and indirectly by suppressing GLUCAGON secretion and LIPOLYSIS. Native insulin is a globular protein comprised of a zinc-coordinated hexamer. Each insulin monomer containing two chains, A (21 residues) and B (30 residues), linked by two disulfide bonds. Insulin is used as a drug to control insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 1).

Annotations

/blood: consider also HYPERINSULINEMIA (excessively high blood insulin levels) but do not confuse with HYPERINSULINISM (excessive secretion of insulin by pancreas); /immunology: consider also INSULIN ANTIBODIES; precursor = PROINSULIN; INSULIN INFUSION SYSTEMS is available

Other Entries

Humulin
Humulin S
Iletin
Insulin A Chain
Insulin, Globin Zinc
Insulin, Regular
Insulin, Regular, Beef-Pork
Insulin, Regular, Human
Insulin, Regular, Pork
Novolin
Sodium Insulin
Type I Insulin
Type II Insulin
Velosulin
Globin Zinc Insulin
Insulin, Sodium
Insulin, Type I
Insulin, Type II
Regular Insulin

Pharmacy Actions

Hypoglycemic Agents

Allowable Qualifiers

administration & dosage adverse effects agonists analogs & derivatives analysis biosynthesis blood cerebrospinal fluid chemical synthesis chemistry classification contraindications deficiency diagnostic use economics genetics history immunology isolation & purification metabolism pharmacokinetics pharmacology physiology poisoning radiation effects secretion standards supply & distribution therapeutic use toxicity urine

Categories

Entry Date

01-01-1999