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Drugs and Medicinal Substances

Insulin

Alimentary Tract and Metabolism Agents

As a medication, insulin is any pharmaceutical preparation of the protein hormone insulin used to treat high blood glucose, including type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis.

Facts
Drug Class
Pharmaceutical protein hormone (antidiabetic agent) 1
Mechanism of Action
Regulates glucose metabolism, promoting glucose absorption and storage in cells and reducing conversion of glycogen back to glucose. 1
Approved Use
Treats high blood glucose in type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and diabetic ketoacidosis. 1
First Approved / Isolated Year
1922 1
Significant Risk
Hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, and allergic reactions. 1
Classification
Approval Status
Approved 1
ATC ClassSourced to the subject's own account
A: Alimentary Tract and Metabolism 2
Route of Administration
Intravenous 1
Route of Administration
Subcutaneous 1
WHO Essential MedicineSourced to the subject's own account
Core List 3
Connections

Associated With

Insulin Therapy, Treatments
Isolation of Insulin, Discoveries

Discovered By

Charles Best, Healers
Source Insulin (Wikipedia)
Frederick Banting, Healers
Source Insulin (Wikipedia)

Long-Form Articles

A Drug Made Safe to Dose, Articles

Treats

Diabetes Mellitus, Conditions
Source Insulin (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Insulin (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead section
    Such conditions include type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and complications of diabetes such as diabetic ketoacidosis
  • Physiology section
    glucose absorption and storage in cells, reduces glycogen to glucose conversion
  • History section
    1922, Frederick Banting, Charles Best, and James Collip first used bovine insulin extract in humans
  • Side effects section
    hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, and allergic reactions
  • Regulatory approval status
  • Route of administration
View the Source
2. Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (Wikipedia)
WikipediaFirst-level anatomical group codes, Code A
Quote, First-level anatomical group codes, Code A
Alimentary tract and metabolism
View the Source
3. WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (Wikipedia)
WikipediaWHO Model List of Essential Medicines, Insulins section
Quote, WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, Insulins section
Insulin (human, short-acting)
View the Source
Frequently Asked Questions

Which conditions is insulin used to treat?

High blood glucose, including type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis.

As a medication, insulin is any pharmaceutical preparation of the protein hormone insulin used to treat high blood glucose. The cited lead section names type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and complications of diabetes such as diabetic ketoacidosis.

What is the main risk of taking insulin?

Hypoglycemia, along with hypokalemia and allergic reactions.

The cited side effects section lists hypoglycemia, hypokalemia and allergic reactions. Insulin regulates glucose metabolism by promoting glucose absorption and storage in cells and reducing the conversion of glycogen back to glucose, which is the mechanism behind its glucose-lowering effect.
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