Effect of insulin treatment on islet function

ABSTRACT Insulin treatment is the use of insulin and similar proteins to treat diseases including diabetes and its acute complications as an effective way of lowering blood glucose level in individuals with impaired Islet beta cell functions. The Islets (Island) of Langerhans are small clusters of cells scattered within the pancreas of most vertebrates to bring about the secretion of the polypeptide hormone, Insulin, which is responsible for the evacuation of excess glucose in the blood stream which when it accumulates results in a phenomenon known a Diabetes mellitus. Insulin therapy is mostly required in conditions where the Islet beta cells have been destroyed, or cannot produce enough Insulin or the body cells are unable to respond to the presence of the secreted insulin adequately. This helps prevent further islet disorganization, improve beta cell function, improve islet insulin content and beta cell morphology, increased insulin gene expression and synthesis and averts beta-cell apoptosis.