To let blood glucose into the cell,
the door to the cell has to be unlocked.
Insulin is the “key”
that unlocks
the door.
Blood glucose is the fuel that
provides energy for your body
To be able to use blood
glucose for energy, your body
must have insulin
“Insulin” is a substance produced
naturally inside the body by an organ
called the “pancreas.” Insulin is
needed to help move blood glucose
from the blood into other parts of the
body where it is used for energy.
Insulin works with cells of your
body like a key works with a lock
The pictures below explain why you
need insulin and how it works in your
body. The pictures show comparisons
to a lock and key.
There are many trillions of cells in
your body. Imagine that the drawing
below is one of the cells in your body.
This “door” into
the cell is closed
and locked.
The right key in
this “keyhole” will
unlock the door.
When you eat, your body digests
the food and turns some of it into
“blood glucose.” Blood glucose is
sometimes called “blood sugar.”
Your blood vessels carry blood
glucose throughout your body and
your cells use it for energy.
Blood glucos
e,
insulin, and
Type 1 diabet
es
Oregon Diabetes Resource Bank
Handouts to help people with diabetes
When you have Type 1 diabetes,
your body does not make insulin
For people who do not have diabetes, the body
makes as much insulin as it needs. But when
you have Type 1 diabetes, your body does not
make its own insulin. Since your body must
have insulin, you have to inject it.
If the insulin “key”
works in the lock,
the door will open.
When insulin unlocks
the cell, glucose can move
from the blood into the
cell to provide energy.
more on the next page
When you have Type 1 diabetes:
Blood glucose, insulin, and Type 1 diabetes, continued
When you have Type 1 diabetes, your body
does not make its own insulin.
With Type 1 diabetes, your body does not make any
insulin “keys.” Without the insulin “keys” there is no
way to unlock the cells of your body to let in the
blood glucose.
Because blood glucose cannot move from your blood
into your cells, the blood glucose stays in your blood.
The blood glucose level in your blood can quickly
get very high. This leads to severe problems in your
body, putting your life in danger.
Your body must have insulin in order to live. If your
body does not make its own insulin, you need to
inject insulin into it
. This gives your body the
insulin “keys” it needs.
When you have Type 1 diabetes, you must
inject insulin into your body.
With no insulin, there are
no keys for your locks
When you put insulin into
your body, it gives you the
keys you need for your locks
Page 2
Copyright 2008. Find materials at
healthoregon.org/diabetes/resourcebank
Commercial use is prohibited. Obtain permission from Oregon Diabetes Program to change materials. (1-08)
When you have Type 1 diabetes, you can
lead a long, healthy life.
See your doctor and other health
providers regularly.
Check your level of blood glucose to be
sure it’s at a healthy level.
Eat healthy foods and stay active.