title: Physiology of glucose homeostasis and insulin therapy in type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
abstract: An input-output schematization of plasma glucose homeostasis provides quantitative information on glucose fluxes and their control by insulin. Insulin action is dependent on the target tissue, the route of delivery, and the kinetics of insulin activation and deactivation, which are different for glucose production and disposal and are a function of insulin resistance. Under normal conditions, the closed-loop control of minute-by-minute insulin release by arterial glucose levels protects against both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Open-loop insulin therapy faces the complexities of insulin pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Insulin therapy thus remains defiantly empiric.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa School of Medicine, Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy. ferranni@ifc.cnr.it
authors.forename: Ele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrannini
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000502:physiology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007332:Insulin Infusion Systems; D007333:Insulin Resistance
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin