insulin

noun
in·​su·​lin | \ ˈin(t)-s(ə-)lən How to pronounce insulin (audio) \

Definition of insulin

: a protein pancreatic hormone secreted by the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans that is essential especially for the metabolism of carbohydrates and the regulation of glucose levels in the blood and that when insufficiently produced results in diabetes mellitus

Examples of insulin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Cambridge company is buying Semma Therapeutics, a nearby firm turning stem cells into insulin factories. BostonGlobe.com, "The week in business," 8 Sep. 2019 Gina Roberts, 52, boarded with her daughter Shannon, 34, a Type 1 diabetic whose insulin supply was running low. Maria Sacchetti, Washington Post, "‘Everything I have is gone’: Crews race to rescue survivors of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas," 7 Sep. 2019 Novo Nordisk is taking a page from numerous other drug makers and proactively cutting its own insulin prices. Sy Mukherjee, Fortune, "The Vaping-Linked Lung Disease Outbreak Is Getting Serious: Brainstorm Health," 6 Sep. 2019 People with Type 2 diabetes, where insulin production is compromised, may also need to adhere to nutrition guidelines and take medication. Sarah Gantz, chicagotribune.com, "Diabetes stress high among college students, study finds," 5 Sep. 2019 The Boston company is buying Semma Therapeutics, a nearby firm turning stem cells into insulin factories. Damian Garde, STAT, "Vertex’s next act: a billion-dollar bet on a cure for type 1 diabetes," 3 Sep. 2019 Shaw had no history of diabetes or prescribed insulin administration. Donovan Slack, USA TODAY, "Exclusive: Second homicide identified in string of deaths at VA hospital; family 'floored'," 28 Aug. 2019 Blue Cross Blue Shield announced Thursday insulin would be available to thousands of members at no charge starting Jan. 1. Christopher Magan, Twin Cities, "Blue Cross Blue Shield latest insurer to slash insulin costs," 22 Aug. 2019 Detainees have been denied doctor-recommend surgery and gone without necessary medical care, such as dosages of insulin for diabetics, and failed to provide for the needs of the disabled. Marcia Heroux Pounds, sun-sentinel.com, "ICE and its contractor Geo Group failed to treat immigrants humanely, lawsuit claims," 19 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'insulin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of insulin

1914, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for insulin

New Latin insula islet (of Langerhans), from Latin, island

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More Definitions for insulin

insulin

noun

English Language Learners Definition of insulin

medical : a substance that your body makes and uses to turn sugar into energy

insulin

noun
in·​su·​lin | \ ˈin-sə-lən How to pronounce insulin (audio) \

Kids Definition of insulin

: a hormone made by the pancreas that helps the cells in the body take up glucose from the blood and that is used to treat diabetes

insulin

noun
in·​su·​lin | \ ˈin(t)-s(ə-)lən How to pronounce insulin (audio) \

Medical Definition of insulin

: a protein hormone that is synthesized in the pancreas from proinsulin and secreted by the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans, that is essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, that regulates blood sugar levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into tissues, by promoting its conversion into glycogen, fatty acids, and triglycerides, and by reducing the release of glucose from the liver, and that when produced in insufficient quantities results in diabetes mellitus — see iletin

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