Final answer:
The function of insulin is to help cells absorb glucose for energy, and it must be injected because it would be broken down by the digestive system if taken orally. It is a protein hormone vital for controlling blood glucose levels, and its proper management is essential in treating diabetes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Function of Insulin and its Administration
The primary function of insulin is to facilitate the uptake of glucose into body cells, which provides them with the energy they need to function. Insulin is a peptide hormone, making it a part of the class of biochemical compounds known as proteins. It functions by increasing glucose transport into the cells, and by promoting the storage of glucose as glycogen in the liver and muscle cells.
Insulin must be injected rather than taken orally due to its nature as a peptide hormone. If ingested, the digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract would break it down before it could reach the bloodstream and be effective. Insulin injections, therefore, bypass the digestive system, ensuring that it can regulate blood glucose levels effectively. High blood glucose levels over time can affect various organ systems, leading to complications if not managed properly.
Type 1 diabetes is a condition that arises when a person's pancreas fails to produce insulin, usually due to an autoimmune reaction destroying the insulin-producing cells. In contrast, type 2 diabetes is typically associated with insulin resistance, where the body's cells do not respond effectively to insulin, often exacerbated by the liver releasing too much glucose into the blood. Insulin injections are critical in managing type 1 diabetes and can also be used in later stages of type 2 diabetes.