Insulin on demandPeople often say, "I have low blood sugar and need to eat something." This is attributed to the production of insulin. Common misconceptions might suggest that diabetics are the only victims who have to deal with insulin, when in reality all mammals unconsciously deal with insulin production on a daily basis. Every form of glucose absorbed by the body must be transformed into a form that the body can use. You can think of insulin as a key that unlocks sugars (glucose). Without insulin, a buildup of glucose builds up in the bloodstream, inhibiting energy production. Without insulin to unblock sugars, the body is forced to find other sources of energy; Simply put, the body eats itself. In our current society, type 2 diabetes is becoming more and more prevalent. As obesity is on the rise, so is its positive correlation with type 2 diabetes. This condition, having been in the spotlight, has paved the way for further research into insulin, insulin production, and how to avoid this life changing disease. Insulin is a hormone produced within the pancreas. The pancreas contains three types of cells: α, β, and σ (Striegel, Hara, and Periwal 1). Alpha (α) cells produce a hormone called glucagon. Glucagon is the antidote to insulin, meaning that its function is not to decrease blood sugar levels, but to bring them back to normal. Beta (β) cells secrete insulin. Delta (σ) cells, which produce somatostatin, regulate both insulin and glucagon to stabilize the body's energy supply. According to Striegel, Hara and Periwal (2015), researchers from the Biological Modeling Laboratory of the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago, these types... paper...... which kill beta cells. Cytokines are another type of receptor that controls the life cycle of cells; they signal the cell nucleus when to begin apoptosis (cell death). In many cases of pre-diabetes the cytokine responses were premature and resulted in unnecessary cell death. If this islet protection technique were used, it could potentially be used to prevent type 2 diabetes (1-9). Insulin is an essential hormone that is used in everyday life. Through its ability to unlock glucose (sugars) into a form that the body can use, insulin is essential for converting and regulating energy. More research could be conducted to pinpoint the exact causes of diseases such as diabetes with the many tools scientists have at their disposal today. With new research methods, the future is full of hope not only for diabetics but also for other people in life-threatening situations.