Insulin Unit Converter

Insulin is a hormone produced by beta cells in the pancreas that regulates blood sugar (glucose) levels. It acts as a key that unlocks your cells, allowing glucose to enter and be used for energy.

When you eat, your blood glucose rises, and the pancreas releases insulin to help move that glucose into cells. In healthy individuals, insulin levels rise and fall in sync with blood glucose levels.

Approximately 50-60% of insulin is extracted by the liver before it reaches general circulation, giving it a short half-life of about 4 minutes. For this reason, C-peptide (released in equal amounts with insulin but lasting longer in the blood) is sometimes used alongside insulin testing for a more complete picture of pancreatic function.

Insulin is produced exclusively by the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans within the pancreas. It is initially made as proinsulin, then cleaved into insulin and C-peptide before being released into the bloodstream.