Diabetes Information

Investigations indicate that insulin stimulates protein synthesis by increasing transport of amino acids into cells and at the same time stimulating nucleic acids, particularly RNA and the messenger RNA, which is especially involved in protein synthesis. Insulin has been shown to stimulate RNA synthesis in many cases. Thus it appears that insulin primarily promotes protein synthesis through its effect upon the RNA synthesis. Moreover the secondary effect of insulin is in increasing carbohydrate metabolism and formation of ATP supply energy for protein synthesis.
In the diabetic patient, glucose can not be fully utilized for the production of energy and the deficiency of glucose is compensated by the utilization of fat and protein. Breakdown of protein serves as a second source of energy. In the diabetic patient, tissue catabolism and increased excretion of nitrogen produce a negative nitrogen balance.
Thus it has been established that the anabolic and catabolic processes of the three essential food constituents (carbohydrate fat and protein) are insulin dependent.
The role of insulin, therefore, appears to be as follows •
1. It facilitates the passage of glucose through cell barriers into the cells.
2. It effects the phosphorylation of glucose.
3. It also plays a role in oxidative phosphorylation and
4. It is essential to lipid and protein catabolism and anabolism.

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