insulin

[ in-suh-lin, ins-yuh- ]

/ ˈɪn sə lɪn, ˈɪns yə- /

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noun

Biochemistry. a polypeptide hormone, produced by the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas, that regulates the metabolism of glucose and other nutrients.

Pharmacology. any of several commercial preparations of this substance, each of which allows a particular rate of absorption into the system: genetically engineered or obtained from the pig or ox pancreas, and used in the treatment of diabetes to restore the normal ability of the body to utilize sugars and other carbohydrates.

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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

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Origin of insulin

First recorded in 1910–15; insul(a) + -in²

Words nearby insulin

insulate, insulating tape, insulation, insulative, insulator, insulin, insulin-coma therapy, insulinize, insulinlike growth factor, insulinoma, insulin pump

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use insulin in a sentence

In fact, eating too much protein can lead to high levels of insulin and ammonia in the blood.
Harsh Ice Age winters may have helped turn wolves into dogs|Bruce Bower|February 3, 2021|Science News For Students
This, despite the fact that insulin levels on the low-fat diet were, Hall told me, “through the roof.”
Is keto really better for weight loss? A new study takes a closer look at the diet.|Tamar Haspel|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
Nanci, a retired X-ray technologist, administered his oxygen and insulin treatments.
A rural S.D. community ignored the virus for months. Then people started dying.|Annie Gowen|December 9, 2020|Washington Post
Conventional insulin injections have fairly narrow windows in which they can be taken to work properly, but patients can take Lyumjev anytime within 20 minutes of starting a meal.
The 100 greatest innovations of 2020|Popular Science Staff|December 2, 2020|Popular-Science

Nigrin describes how the cloud allows one of Boston Children’s Hospital’s partners, Israeli medical technology developer DreaMed Diabetes, to “inject AI smarts” into remote insulin management.
A new horizon: Expanding the AI landscape|Jason Sparapani|November 30, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Once we eat, insulin (which regulates the breakdown of fat) increases in our body.
Does Fasted Cardio Really Burn More Fat?|DailyBurn|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And, according to some research, higher insulin levels have been shown to suppress fat metabolism by up to 22 percent.
Does Fasted Cardio Really Burn More Fat?|DailyBurn|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In addition, low fat/high carb diets lower protective “good” cholesterol and raise insulin.
The Heart Association’s Junk Science Diet|Dr. Barbara H. Roberts|May 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For example, I cannot imagine trying to treat a diabetic patient without insulin, or an asthmatic patient without bronchodilators.
When Antibiotics Don’t Work, It’s Everyone’s Problem|Russell Saunders|May 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But others say that overeating carbohydrates causes insulin to surge and essentially drives fat storage.
Eating More Fat Could Save Your Life|Daniela Drake|December 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Kroger said that the Martian metabolism must be like Terran (Earth-type) metabolism, only with no pancreas to make insulin.
The Dope on Mars|John Michael Sharkey
It is as if some men would rather die than use insulin and those who did use it became outcasts!
The Hate Disease|William Fitzgerald Jenkins
Diabetes takes two forms: juvenile onset (or insulin-dependent) and adult onset (or noninsulin-dependent) diabetes.
When You Don't Know Where to Turn|Steven J. Bartlett
The first type starts in childhood or young adulthood, and is caused by the body's failure to produce enough insulin.
When You Don't Know Where to Turn|Steven J. Bartlett
Excess insulin leads to low blood sugar (literally, hypoglycemia).
When You Don't Know Where to Turn|Steven J. Bartlett

British Dictionary definitions for insulin

insulin

/ (ˈɪnsjʊlɪn) /

noun

a protein hormone, secreted in the pancreas by the islets of Langerhans, that controls the concentration of glucose in the blood. Insulin deficiency results in diabetes mellitus

Word Origin for insulin

C20: from New Latin insula islet (of the pancreas) + -in

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for insulin

insulin

[ ĭn′sə-lĭn ]

A hormone produced in the pancreas that regulates the amount of sugar in the blood by stimulating cells, especially liver and muscle cells, to absorb and metabolize glucose. Insulin also stimulates the conversion of blood glucose into glycogen and fat, which are the body's chief sources of stored carbohydrates.

A drug containing this hormone, obtained from the pancreas of animals or produced synthetically and used to treat diabetes.

Cultural definitions for insulin

insulin

[ (in-suh-lin, in-syuh-lin) ]

A hormone secreted by the pancreas that regulates the levels of sugar in the blood.

notes for insulin

Persons suffering from diabetes mellitus may receive periodic or daily injections of insulin as a treatment for the disease.