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| Insulin is a hormone which has extensive effects on metabolism
and other body functions, such as vascular compliance. Insulin
causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up
glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and
muscle, and stopping use of fat as an energy source. When
insulin is absent (or low), glucose is not taken up by body
cells, and the body begins to use fat as an energy source, for
example, by transfer of lipids from adipose tissue to the liver
for mobilization as an energy source. As its level is a central
metabolic control mechanism, its status is also used as a
control signal to other body systems (such as amino acid uptake
by body cells). It has several other anabolic effects throughout
the body. When control of insulin levels fails, diabetes
mellitus results. Insulin is used medically to treat some forms
of diabetes mellitus. Patients