Insulin

Insulin is a p containing 2 chains of amino-acids, linked by disulphide bridges. It is synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum of the B cells of the islets of Langerhans. The gene for insulin is located on chromosome II in human beings. Insulin is a hypoglycemic anti-diabetic factor and the protein hormone which regulates the blood glucose level.

It increases the deposition of glucose in the liver and muscles as glycogen. It also increases the oxidation of glucose to carbon-dioxide in the tissues and depresses formation of glucose from sources other than carbohydrates.

Therefore insulin plays an important role in the transfer of glucose from the blood to cells for storage. But, in diabetics, due to deficiency of insulin hormone, this transport is affected, as a result of which glucose gets accumulated in the blood. So, insulin in the form of injections is given to diabetic patients to keep them healthy.