Recombinant human insulin is a medication used to treat diabetes. The spelling of this word can be broken down by its four syllables: re-com-bin-ant hu-man in-su-lin. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) can help to understand the pronunciation of each syllable. The IPA for this word is /ˌriːkəmˈbaɪnənt ˈhjuːmən ˈɪnsjʊlɪn/, with stress on the second syllable, "com". This precise spelling is important in the medical field, where accurate spelling and pronunciation can have critical implications.
Recombinant human insulin refers to a type of insulin that is produced through genetic engineering techniques using recombinant DNA technology. Insulin is a hormone that regulates glucose metabolism in the body and is essential for the proper utilization of carbohydrates. In individuals with diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin (Type 1 diabetes) or it does not effectively use the insulin it produces (Type 2 diabetes).
The production of recombinant human insulin involves inserting the human insulin gene into a host organism, typically bacteria (Escherichia coli) or yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), which acts as a factory to produce insulin in large quantities. This process allows the production of pure and highly standardized human insulin that is identical to the insulin naturally produced in the human body.
Recombinant human insulin is widely used in the treatment of diabetes to help regulate blood glucose levels. It is available in various forms such as short-acting (regular) insulin, intermediate-acting insulin, and long-acting insulin. These different forms enable the control of blood sugar levels throughout the day and can be administered via injection or through insulin pumps.
Recombinant human insulin has revolutionized diabetes care since its introduction in the 1980s, replacing animal-derived insulin that used to be the main source. Its production through genetic engineering has ensured a consistent and safe supply, with reduced risk of allergic reactions and increased availability worldwide.