insulin

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a hormone produced by pancreatic beta cells that regulates blood glucose and other aspects of metabolism

   After the meal, insulin helps the body's cells take up glucose from the blood.

2. 2
   noun

   a preparation of insulin or an analogue used as a medicine, especially to treat diabetes

   She injects insulin before meals to control her blood sugar.

Coined from Latin insula ("island") + -in. The name refers to the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, where insulin-producing beta cells are found.

Topics