Insulin is a naturally-produced hormone without which the body cannot function optimally. When there is a lack of insulin production or impairment within the body, it fails to regulate the amount of glucose. Insulin plays an important role in the management of diabetes, and therefore, when the pancreas fail to produce the required amount of insulin, it becomes crucial to take artificial insulin injections to maintain healthy levels and control the symptoms or side-effects of diabetes. In the following paragraphs, a brief overview on the types and forms and ways for administering insulin has been given. Different types of insulin There are several types of insulin. They can be divided into 4 primary variants which are as follows: Long-acting insulin – This type of insulin works slowly and takes about one to two hours to show optimum results. The effects of long-acting insulin last for many hours and sometimes, even for a day. Short-acting insulin – Insulin which is soluble takes about half an hour to act and last for about six to eight hours at the most. Some variants of this insulin last for a shorter period of time while they act quite fast. Intermediate-acting insulin – Isophane insulin acts a bit slower and takes about two hours to work.

Diabetes is a condition that is affecting a significant percentage of people, irrespective of the demography and race a person belongs to. As such, an insulin therapy becomes inevitable in certain diabetic patients. In such a case, it is important to understand the role that insulin plays in managing your blood glucose levels. Role of insulin The carbohydrates break down into sugar (glucose) every time you eat. The glucose enters the bloodstream. It is considered as the primary source of energy. The function of insulin is to allow glucose to enter the cells and tissues of the body. The blood glucose level is maintained by insulin, a hormone which is produced by the pancreas. If the pancreas is unable to secrete enough insulin, the blood glucose level will increase as it will not be able to enter the cells of the body. This condition is known as diabetes. If it is left untreated, increased blood glucose levels can result in nerve damage, kidney damage, and blindness. Objective of insulin therapy People with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are treated with insulin therapy. People with type 1 diabetes have to completely rely on insulin therapy. The insulin therapy replaces the insulin that the body fails to produce in type 1 diabetes patients.

Diabetes, commonly called diabetes mellitus by doctors, is a disease in which the blood glucose or blood sugar levels of a person are too high. Insulin is a hormone produced by the body that allows glucose to enter into the cells of the body to provide energy. When people have Type 1 diabetes, their body cannot make insulin. When people have Type 2 diabetes, their body cannot produce or use insulin in the proper way. This results in the glucose staying in the blood. Over time, it can lead to serious problems such as heart disease and stroke. The kidneys, nerves, and eyes of people can also get damaged due to diabetes. Causes The causes of diabetes depend primarily on a person’s family history, genetics, health, and other environmental factors. Type 1 diabetes results due to an autoimmune reaction or cause. In this type of diabetes, the immune system of the body destroys the cells of the pancreas that are responsible for making insulin. As a result, the body cannot make enough insulin for normal functioning. Although there is no specific cause for Type 1 diabetes, the triggers can be as follows- Bacterial or viral infection Any unidentified component resulting in an autoimmune reaction Chemical toxins that are present in certain foods Genetic disposition Type 2 diabetes results due to multiple causes.

Dry eye syndrome is one of the most common reasons for people to visit an eye specialist. In the country, more than 5 million suffer from dry eyes and related issues. Dry eyes are more frequently seen among women than men. Herein, you can read more about chronic dry eyes, its causes, and the symptoms. What is a dry eye syndrome? Dry eyes occur when there is a lack of lubrication and moisture on the surface of the eyes. As you may be aware, tears are necessary to maintain the health of the eyes. It is important to clear vision as well. Dry eyes are a chronic condition in which there will not be an adequate production of quality tears leading to other complications. However, over-the-counter (i.e., eye gels, eye drops, and ointments) and doctor-prescribed treatments, such as Restasis (Cyclosporine Ophthalmic Emulsion) and Xiidra (Lifitegrastdry) prescription eye drops, can significantly ease dry eye symptoms and restore moisture and comfort to the eyes. Causes of Dry Eyes A lot of factors will lead to insufficient tear production, which results in dry eye syndrome. Here are some of the common factors that influence good quality tear production. Aging As you age, the chance of developing dry eye stands higher.

Dyskinesia is a term given to a set of movement disorders which could either be a part of diseases like Parkinson’s or a side effect of long-term use of antipsychotic medications, which are used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. All these are neurodegenerative disorders, and the treatment of the original condition also has an effect on the nervous system. It is therefore important for the patient and the caretaker to know what to look out for and identify them at the earliest. Like in any disease condition, early diagnosis helps in arresting symptom progression and minimal treatment. Diagnosis of dyskinesia While there are definitely diagnostic measures to identify dyskinesia, the patient should watch out for symptoms. If there is a family history of dyskinesia or other movement disorders, it is good to have an annual check-up after a certain age, say 60 years. Also, for people on antipsychotic medications, an annual check to watch out for symptoms is a must. Some tests to check for dyskinesia include: Blood tests to check for dopamine levels. Imaging tests like CT scan and MRI. The MRI will actually help identify areas of degeneration and thereby confirm the diagnosis. This can also help rule out other movement disorders like cerebral palsy, stroke, and Huntington’s chorea.