insulin
A polypeptide hormone that regulates carbohydrate metabolism (in various animals including humans).
Example
“Mommy said that Grandma's diabetes happened because her body stopped making its own insulin.”
Other meanings
Any exogenous preparation of this hormone for use as a medication.
“The advent of insulin in the mid-20th century changed the lives of millions of people with diabetes.”
Any exogenous preparation of this hormone or its analogues for use as a medication.
“A: What kind of insulin do you take? B: I use basal-bolus therapy, which in my case involves glargine and lispro.”
Related words
- insulinaemia
- insulinergic
- insulinitis
- insulinize
- insulinoma
- insulinopenia
- insulinotropism
- insulysin
- insulin aspart
- insulin degludec
- human insulin
- regular insulin
Word history
From Latin "īnsula" (island).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “insulin” on Wiktionary, by its contributors, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.