"Insulin"

Insulin is a hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas that permits glucose to enter cells and helps the body use glucose for energy. Insulin controls the amount of glucose in the blood.

People who are Type 1 diabetic must use manufactured insulin, usually in an injectable form, to replace the natural insulin that is no longer produced by their body.

People with Type 2 sometimes need to use insulin when their cells become too resistant to the insulin that they produce naturally and oral medications are no longer working.