| globin insulin | A rapidly acting form of insulin which is a clear solution and may be administered intravenously as well as subcutaneously; may be mixed with longer acting forms of insulin to extend the duration of effect. Onset of effect occurs in 1/2 to 1 hour, peak effects are observed in 2 to 3 hours, and the duration of effect is about 5 to 7 hours. Synonym: globin insulin. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| semilente insulin | Sterile suspension of insulin in buffered water for injection, modified by the addition of zinc chloride such that the solid phase of the suspension is amorphous; it contains 40 or 80 units per ml; the duration of action is equivalent to that of insulin injection. Synonym: amorphous insulin zinc suspension, semilente insulin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus | <disease> An often mild form of diabetes mellitus of gradual onset, usually in obese individuals over age 35; absolute plasma insulin levels are normal to high, but relatively low in relation to plasma glucose levels; ketoacidosis is rare, but hyperosmolar coma can occur; responds well to dietary regulation and/or oral hypoglycaemic agents, but diabetic complications and degenerative changes can develop. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nonsuppressible insulin-like activity | A blood protein (nsila) which mimics the biological activity of insulin in serum, but is not suppressed by insulin antibodies. During acid-ethanol extraction of cohn fraction III, 10% of the activity is found in the supernatant (nsila-s) and the remaining activity in the precipitate (nsila-p). The latter is a large molecular compound, much less stable than the soluble fraction. Nsila-s is a more potent growth factor than insulin and exhibits sulfation activity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| NPH insulin | isophane insulin |
| diabetes mellitus, insulin-dependent | Diabetes mellitus characterised by insulin deficiency, sudden onset, severe hyperglycaemia, rapid progression to ketoacidosis, and death unless treated with insulin. The disease may occur at any age, but is most common in childhood or adolescence. (12 Dec 1998) |
| diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependent | Diabetes characterised by the ability to survive without ketoacidosis in the absence of insulin therapy. It is usually of slow onset and patients exhibit a tendency to obesity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| insulin | <drug, growth factor, hormone> A polypeptide hormone (bovine insulin, 5780D) found in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Secreted by the _ cells of the pancreas in response to high blood sugar levels, it induces hypoglycaemia. Defective secretion of insulin is the cause of diabetes mellitus. Insulin is also a mitogen, has sequence homologies with other growth factors and is a frequent addition to cell culture media for demanding cell types. (18 Nov 1997) |
| insulin activating factor | <chemical> Activates insulin gene transcription in pancreatic beta cells. Synonym: insaf (05 Dec 1998) |
| insulin allergy | When a person's body has an allergic or bad reaction to taking insulin made from pork or beef or from bacteria, or because the insulin is not exactly the same as human insulin or because it has impurities. The allergy can be of two forms. Sometimes an area of skin becomes red and itchy around the place where the insulin is injected. This is called a local allergy. In another form, a person's whole body can have a bad reaction. This is called a systemic allergy. The person can have hives or red patches all over the body or may feel changes in the heart rate and in the rate of breathing. A doctor may treat this allergy by prescribing purified insulins or by desensitisation. See: desensitisation. (09 Oct 1997) |
| insulin antagonist | Something that opposes or fights the action of insulin. Insulin lowers the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood, whereas glucagon raises it, therefore, glucagon is an antagonist of insulin. (09 Oct 1997) |
| insulin-antagonizing factor | A principle in extracts of the anterior lobe of the hypophysis that raises the blood sugar and antagonises the action of insulin; purified pituitary growth hormone produces an identical effect. Synonym: insulin-antagonizing factor. (05 Mar 2000) |
| insulin binding | When insulin attaches itself to something else. This can occur in two ways. First, when a cell needs energy, insulin can bind with the outer part of the cell. The cell then can bring glucose (sugar) inside and use it for energy. With the help of insulin, the cell can do its work very well and very quickly. But sometimes the body acts against itself. In this second case, the insulin binds with antibodies. If the insulin is an injected form of insulin and not made by the body, the body sees the insulin as an outside or foreign substance. When the injected insulin binds with the antibodies, it does not work as well as when it binds directly to the cell. (09 Oct 1997) |
| insulin coma treatment | Rarely used treatment of major mental illness by means of hypoglycaemic coma induced by insulin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| insulin c-peptide | <investigation> A blood test which measures the amount of C-peptide in the blood. C-peptide is a byproduct of normal insulin production by the beta cells in the pancreas. Normal values are 0.5 to 3.0 ng/ml. Normal levels indicate that the body is still producing its own insulin. Low levels indicate that the pancreas is producing little or no insulin. Elevations can be seen in cases of insulinomas and islet of Langerhans tumours. (27 Sep 1997) |