Back

Facts for Kids

Insulin is a peptide hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreatic islets that helps manage blood sugar levels in our body.

Overview

Types Of Insulin

What Is Insulin

Role Of Insulin In The Body

History Of Insulin Discovery

Insulin Resistance And Diabetes

Effects Of Insulin On Metabolism

How Insulin Regulates Blood Sugar

Insulin Production In The Pancreas

Insulin Therapy And Treatment Options

main image

Inside this Article

University Of Toronto

Roller Coaster

Metabolism

Ice Cream

Pancreas

Building

Medicine

Diabetes

Did you know?

๐ŸŒŸ Insulin is like a special key that helps sugar from our food enter our cells for energy.

๐Ÿ Our bodies make insulin in the pancreas, which is located behind the stomach.

๐Ÿ“ฌ Insulin is a hormone, which sends important signals in our body.

๐Ÿš€ When we eat sweet foods, insulin helps lower our blood sugar levels.

๐ŸŽ‰ Insulin was discovered by two Canadian scientists, Frederick Banting and Charles Best, in the 1920s.

๐Ÿฅ The first insulin treatment was given to a 14-year-old boy named Leonard Thompson in 1922.

๐Ÿฆธโ€โ™‚๏ธ Insulin plays a superhero role by controlling blood sugar levels and keeping our bodies balanced.

๐ŸŒˆ Insulin helps store extra sugar for later energy use in the liver.

๐Ÿฆ There are different types of insulin that work at different speeds to manage blood sugar.

๐Ÿค— Insulin therapy involves giving insulin through injections or pumps to help those who need extra support.

Introduction

Insulin is a special chemical in our body that helps us keep our energy levels just right! ๐ŸŒŸ

It's like a key that helps sugar from the food we eat enter our cells, where it's used for energy. Our bodies make insulin in a place called the pancreas, which is located behind the stomach. Healthy levels of insulin help us feel good, but if our bodies don't make enough, we can get sick. Learning about insulin is important because it plays a big role in how our body works, especially for kids growing up! ๐Ÿ

Read Less

Types Of Insulin

There are different types of insulin, like different flavors of ice cream! ๐Ÿฆ

They are classified based on how fast they work. Fast-acting insulin starts working quickly to control blood sugar after a meal. Long-acting insulin takes a bit longer but keeps sugar levels steady over time. Some people may need a mix of different types to help their bodies! ๐ŸŽ‰

Hospitals and doctors give insulin using pens or pumps, so itโ€™s easy to use. Understanding these types can help children with diabetes manage their health better!
Read Less

What Is Insulin?

Insulin is a hormone, which is a messenger in our body that sends important signals! ๐Ÿ“ฌ

It is made up of a chain of tiny building blocks called amino acids. When we eat foods like fruits, bread, and candy, our blood sugar level goes up. Insulin helps to lower this sugar level. Think of insulin as a helpful friend for our body! ๐Ÿš€

It makes sure our cells can use the sugar for energy so we can run, play, and grow.
Read Less

Role Of Insulin In The Body

Insulin plays a superhero role in our bodies by controlling blood sugar! ๐Ÿฆธ

โ€โ™‚๏ธ When we eat, our pancreas releases insulin, which helps sugar from our food get into our cells. Our cells then use this sugar for energy, which helps us run fast, think, and play! Also, insulin helps store extra sugar in the liver for later use, so we have energy even when we donโ€™t eat! ๐ŸŒˆ

If thereโ€™s too much sugar in the blood, insulin helps bring it down. Thatโ€™s how it keeps our bodies balanced!
Read Less

History Of Insulin Discovery

Insulin has an exciting history! ๐ŸŽ‰

In the 1920s, two Canadian scientists named Frederick Banting and Charles Best discovered insulin while working at the University of Toronto. They found out that it could help people with a disease called diabetes, which makes it hard for the body to manage sugar. Their work changed medicine forever! ๐Ÿฅ

In 1922, the first insulin treatment was given to a 14-year-old boy named Leonard Thompson, and he got better! Thanks to their discoveries, millions of people have lived healthier lives!
Read Less

Insulin Resistance And Diabetes

Sometimes, our bodies have trouble using insulin properly, which can lead to a condition called insulin resistance. ๐Ÿค”

This means the cells donโ€™t respond well to insulin, so blood sugar levels stay high. If this continues, it can turn into a type of diabetes! ๐ŸŒŸ

Type 1 diabetes happens when the body can't make insulin at all. Type 2 diabetes happens more often in adults when the body's cells don't respond as they should. Both types can be managed with good habits and medicine!
Read Less

Effects Of Insulin On Metabolism

Insulin has a big impact on metabolism, which is how our body uses food for energy! โšก

๏ธ When insulin is released, it helps our body turn sugar into energy. It also tells our body to store some energy for later use, like putting food in a backpack for later! ๐ŸŽ’

Insulin helps balance energy levels by working with other hormones, especially when we are active or resting. If insulin doesn't work right, it can lead to problems with metabolism, and that affects how our body feels and works.
Read Less

How Insulin Regulates Blood Sugar

Imagine the body as a roller coaster! ๐ŸŽข

Blood sugar levels go up and down after we eat. When we eat something sweet, like cake ๐ŸŽ‚, sugar goes up, and our body releases more insulin to lower it. If blood sugar is too low, our pancreas makes less insulin. This is really important because if sugar levels are too high or too low, we may not feel good. Insulin works to maintain the โ€œsmooth rideโ€ of blood sugar by adjusting the levels, keeping our bodies happy! ๐Ÿ˜Š

Read Less

Insulin Production In The Pancreas

Insulin is produced in an organ called the pancreas, which is a small, pear-shaped organ located behind your stomach! ๐Ÿ

The pancreas contains tiny cells called beta cells, and these are the ones that make insulin. When we eat, the beta cells sense the sugar and get to work, like little factories! ๐Ÿญ

They pump out insulin to help bring the sugar into our cells. Itโ€™s an amazing process that helps our bodies run on the energy we get from food!
Read Less

Insulin Therapy And Treatment Options

For kids and adults who need a little extra help, there are different treatments for insulin. ๐Ÿค—

Doctors might suggest insulin therapy, which means giving insulin through injections or pumps. This helps keep blood sugar levels just right! ๐Ÿ’‰

Some kids with diabetes may need to check their blood sugar levels daily. Other treatments include healthy eating and staying active, which are super important! Eating balanced meals and moving around helps our bodies work better, and everyone can join in the fun of being healthy! ๐Ÿƒ

โ€โ™€๏ธ๐ŸŒŸ
Read Less

Insulin Quiz

Q1
Question 1 of 10
Next

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DIY back?!
How do I reactivate my account?
How do I sign up?
Are the android and iOS apps coming back?
What is DIY?
What is a โ€œChallengeโ€ on DIY?
What is a โ€œCourseโ€ on DIY?
What are โ€œSkillsโ€ on DIY?
What if I'm new to all thisโ€”where do I begin?
Do I need special materials or equipment?
Is DIY safe for kids?
Can I collaborate with other DIYers on a project?
How do Mentors, Mods, and Jr. Mods help us?
What is DIY?
What's the recommended age for DIY?

Our Mission

To create a safe space for kid creators worldwide!

Download on AppStoreDownload on Google Play

2025, URSOR LIMITED. All rights reserved. DIY is in no way affiliated with Minecraftโ„ข, Mojang, Microsoft, Robloxโ„ข or YouTube. LEGOยฎ is a trademark of the LEGOยฎ Group which does not sponsor, endorse or authorize this website or event. Made with love in San Francisco.