Insulin

[in-suh-lin, ins-yuh-] /ˈɪn sə lɪn, ˈɪns yə-/

noun
1.
Biochemistry. a polypeptide hormone, produced by the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas, that regulates the metabolism of glucose and other nutrients.
2.
Pharmacology. any of several commercial preparations of this substance, each of which allows a particular rate of absorption into the system: genetically engineered or obtained from the pig or ox pancreas, and used in the treatment of diabetes to restore the normal ability of the body to utilize sugars and other carbohydrates.
/ˈɪnsjʊlɪn/
noun
1.
a protein hormone, secreted in the pancreas by the islets of Langerhans, that controls the concentration of glucose in the blood. Insulin deficiency results in diabetes mellitus
n.

1922 (earlier insuline, 1914), coined in English from Latin insula “island,” so called because the hormone is secreted by the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Insuline was coined independently in French in 1909.

insulin in·su·lin (ĭn’sə-lĭn)
n.

insulin
(ĭn’sə-lĭn)

insulin [(in-suh-lin, in-syuh-lin)]

A hormone secreted by the pancreas that regulates the levels of sugar in the blood.

Note: Persons suffering from diabetes mellitus may receive periodic or daily injections of insulin as a treatment for the disease.