Glucose - a white or colorless, odorless, has a sweet taste which is soluble in water. Cane sugar for about 25% sweeter than glucose. Glucose is the most important human carbohydrate. Scientists are still wondering why glucose, and not any other monosaccharide such as fructose, is so widely distributed in living organisms.

One reason for this may be that it is less likely than other sugars, enters into reaction with the amino groups of nonspecific proteins. Such reactions reduce or destroy the function of many enzymes. However, certain complications of diabetes (associated with elevated levels of blood glucose) is probably caused by a reaction in which glucose enters with proteins and lipids. Among these complications - blindness, kidney failure and peripheral neuropathy.

What is glucose?

Glucose is a key energy source for humans and for animals and plants. She also - the staple food for the brain, and in many respects this sugar affects many mental processes. At a low level of glucose processes requiring mental effort (eg, self-control, difficult decisions, and so on) may be violated.

In addition, glucose is used in the manufacture of certain foods. Five or ten percent glucose solution was used for intravenous feeding of patients who, for whatever can not take food by mouth.

As used glucose?

If the body gets more glucose than necessary, the excess in the form of glycogen in the liver and deposited in the form of fat - in adipose tissue. In the blood of an adult is on average 5-6 g of glucose (or a teaspoon). This volume is enough to provide the body with energy for about 15 minutes. Therefore, the blood glucose level is constantly maintained by glycogen stored in the liver.

The sources of glucose are fruits, flower nectar, various plants and their juice, as well as blood.

Insulin - a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels. High glucose levels can indicate diabetes or prediabetes. Glucose is present in the urine only when its level in blood is significantly higher than normal - it can be like diabetes.

In healthy people, even with a large amount of intake of food rich in carbohydrates, the oxidation of glucose and its conversion to glycogen is fast and its blood levels never becomes high enough to hit the glucose urine.

Besides diabetes, the blood glucose level may be increased because of the following diseases:

• Overactive thyroid The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones   (hyperthyroidism)
• Pancreas cancer
• Pancreatitis
• Pheochromocytoma, acromegaly, Cushing's syndrome Cushing's syndrome - an excess of glucocorticoids in the body Or glucagonoma (all this is a very rare condition)
• Glucose levels may be reduced under the following conditions:
• Apituitarism
• Reduced activity of the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)
• Insulinoma (very rare)
• Malnutrition (by virtue sotsioekonmicheskih reasons, or during a very strict diet and anorexia and bulimia)
• Abuse of insulin The principles of action of insulin - the science of saving lives   and other drugs to treat diabetes.
• Very strong stress How to beat stress? Create an oasis   (both because of emotional experience and by trauma, stroke, heart attack or surgery) can also cause a temporary increase in blood glucose levels.

Additionally, some drugs have an effect on blood glucose. Acceptance of these medications can lead to increased blood glucose levels:

• Atypical antipsychotics, especially olanzapine, quetiapine and risperidone
• Beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol)
• Corticosteroids
• Dextrose
• Adrenaline
• Estrogens
• Glucagon
• Isoniazid
• Lithium
• Oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
• Phenothiazines
• Phenytoin
• Salicylates
• Thiazide diuretics
• Triamterene
• Tricyclic antidepressants

Among the drugs that reduce glucose levels:

• Acetaminophen
• Alcohol
• Anabolic steroid
• Clofibrate
• Dizopiramid
• Gemfibrozil
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Pentamidine
• Sulfonylureas (e.g. glipizide, glyburide and glimepiride).

Creation of insulin was a revolutionary event in the world of diabetes, but the first insulins were poorly treated, and therefore imperfect. Moreover, animal insulin had increased immunogenicity, resulting in complications of various types. Best insulin today - human, produced by genetic engineering, but he has flaws - the need to introduce for thirty minutes before meals and duration of up to twelve hours, which increases the risk of later development of hypoglycemia. Therefore, scientists around the world have continued to work to improve insulin and have new tools, called insulin analogues.

Insulin analogues

In the early eighties of the twentieth century began to strengthen the work on optimization of insulin that would be better than a human. As a result, changing the amino acid sequence in the molecule of insulin preparations have been produced which are called insulin analogues - they are as close as possible to the physiological action of insulin.

Insulin analogues just starting to act very early, almost immediately after the introduction and prevent re-lifting glucose Glucose: The energy source   a few hours after injection.

Prolonged insulin analogs designed to simulate the basic insulin secretion, thus providing physiological approach to insulin The basic principles of insulin - is correct in everything Helping to achieve a controlled hyperglycemia and minimize the risk of hypoglycemia. Currently known insulin analogues not only ultrashort and long-acting, but also mixtures thereof in a fixed ratio.

Analogs of regular insulin

Very important is the fact that short-acting insulin analogues, which include Humalog, Apidra and NovoRapid Penfill provide rapid development of peak concentrations and rapid elimination, which corresponds better to the physiological insulin secretion peak.

It is known that the introduction of a simple short-acting insulin (human obtained by genetic engineering), the duration of its action is directly proportional to the dose, and is in the range of six to twelve hours, which is not convenient for preventing hypoglycemia later. Short-acting insulin analogues have a maximum term of five hours, which reduces the risk of hypoglycemia later.

Prolonged insulin analogues

Prolonged insulin analogs, which include Penfill Levemir and Lantus, mimic the basic insulin secretion. Lantus - insulin analogue ultralong action, it is sufficient administered once a day after the injection because it provides a slow flow of hormones in the blood, which further contributes to the addition of a small amount of zinc preparation.

Lantus takes effect within one hour after administration, reaching steady state concentrations after two - four days, which is not related to the time and place of administration. Analogs of the prolonged insulin (Lantus) are similar in effect to the physiological insulin The principles of action of insulin - the science of saving lives : Stimulate insulin-dependent glucose uptake by tissues, inhibit gluconeogenesis, thereby reducing the level of glucose in the blood, as well as inhibit lipolysis and proteolysis, i.e., increase protein synthesis.

Combined insulin analogues

By the combination of insulin analogues are Penfill and Humalog miks25 that are used mainly in elderly patients suffering from age-diabetes Diabetes - threatening and incurable disease , Which are characterized by forgetfulness. Therefore, it is important to have available a drug that controls the level of glucose in the blood, allowing the introduction of the food, during it or immediately after. The combined action of insulin analogues to help patients achieve such a satisfactory compensation for a small number of complications.

Svetlana Shimkovich