Chemicals and Drugs

Insulin

A 51-amino acid pancreatic hormone that plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, directly by suppressing endogenous glucose production (GLYCOGENOLYSIS; GLUCONEOGENESIS) and indirectly by suppressing GLUCAGON secretion and LIPOLYSIS. Native insulin is a globular protein comprised of a zinc-coordinated hexamer. Each insulin monomer containing two chains, A (21 residues) and B (30 residues), linked by two disulfide bonds. Insulin is used as a drug to control insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 1).

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A 51-amino acid pancreatic hormone that plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, directly by suppressing endogenous glucose production (GLYCOGENOLYSIS; GLUCONEOGENESIS) and indirectly by suppressing GLUCAGON secretion and LIPOLYSIS. Native insulin is a globular protein comprised of a zinc-coordinated hexamer. Each insulin monomer containing two chains, A (21 residues) and B (30 residues), linked by two disulfide bonds. Insulin is used as a drug to control insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 1).

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

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Related Concepts

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

11 entry terms
  • Insulin, Regular
  • Soluble Insulin
  • Insulin, Soluble
  • Regular Insulin
  • Iletin
  • Insulin A Chain
  • Insulin B Chain
  • Novolin
  • Sodium Insulin
  • Chain, Insulin B
  • Insulin, Sodium

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

28 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analogs & derivatives, analysis, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, deficiency, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

/blood: consider also HYPERINSULINEMIA (excessively high blood insulin levels) but do not confuse with HYPERINSULINISM (excessive secretion of insulin by pancreas); /immunology: consider also INSULIN ANTIBODIES; precursor = PROINSULIN; INSULIN INFUSION SYSTEMS is available

MeSH Record

History Note

1966 (2026)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D06.472w.699w.587.200.500w.625w
  2. D12.644w.548w.586.200.500w.625w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WK 802

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Insulin. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D007328. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D007328
  2. Insulin. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulin
  3. Insulin. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q50265665