How Does Insulin Transfer Glucose Into Our Cells?

Everyone knows insulin is critical for diabetics, but how many people know how insulin transfers glucose into our cells. Normally, in non-diabetics, insulin is released in small amounts to help our body's cells process glucose into energy. Around meal times, more insulin is produced which helps process the increased glucose on our blood.

During this process, the beta cells in the pancreas monitor the levels of glucose in the blood and produce the necessary amount of insulin.

Insulin is a protein and is carried in the blood plasma, the liquid form of our blood. The insulin attaches to beta globulins in the blood plasma.

Globulins, both alpha and beta, are responsible for circulating hormones and vitamins throughout your body.

As the insulin comes in contact with cell membranes, the insulin causes the cell's membrane to become more susceptible to glucose entering it.

Essentially, the membrane becomes more permeable or "leaky" for the non scientific types. The more insulin in the blood plasma, the more "leaky" a cell membrane gets causing more glucose to enter.

The glucose that can't be used by the cells ultimately is converted to fat. Now you know how the insulin transfer glucose works.

Obviously, in diabetics, this normal process is interrupted and not enough insulin is produced or the cells become resistant to its effect. In type 1 diabetics, insulin shots are necessary to make sure the glucose is absorbed by the cells.