Final answer:
Slower-acting, short-duration insulin, usually referring to regular human insulin, is used to regulate blood sugar for short periods and tends to act for about 2 to 3 hours post-injection. It consists of two peptide chains and has a molecular weight of 5734 Da. Regular insulin promotes the uptake of glucose into cells and its storage, particularly following meals high in glucose.
Step-by-step explanation:
Slower-acting, short-duration insulin refers to regular human insulin, which is a form of insulin used in the management of diabetes mellitus. This type of insulin has a short time of onset, usually about 30 minutes to one hour after injection, and is effective in reducing blood glucose levels for a relatively short period, typically around 2 to 3 hours. Regular human insulin is often used to manage blood sugar levels during meals or to correct high blood sugar levels.
The action of regular human insulin mimics the natural endogenously produced hormone, which is a polypeptide consisting of two chains. The A chain contains 21 amino acids and the B chain contains 30 amino acids. Both chains are connected by two disulfide bridges with a molecular weight of approximately 5734 Da. Insulin facilitates the uptake of glucose into body cells, principally liver and muscle cells, for either immediate energy production or for storage as glycogen for future energy needs.
Regular insulin allows for the storage of glucose to decrease blood glucose levels after consuming high-glucose meals. The injected insulin binds to insulin receptors on cell surfaces to facilitate glucose uptake, after which insulin is degraded, with a typical insulin molecule being degraded approximately 71 minutes after its release into circulation.