The Diabetes Code: Prevent and Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally

by Jason Fung

One of insulin’s roles is to facilitate the uptake of glucose into cells for energy, by opening a channel to allow it inside. Hormones find their target cell by binding to receptors on the cell surface, much like a key fitting into a lock. Only the correct hormone can open the receptor and deliver the message. Insulin works like the key, fitting snugly into the lock on the cell to open a gateway for glucose.

As we’ve seen, insulin acts like a key to open a gate for glucose to enter the cell. But sometimes, in a state of insulin resistance, the usual levels of insulin are not sufficient and glucose piles up in the bloodstream because it cannot get into the cells. To compensate, the body produces more insulin to overcome this resistance and force the blood glucose inside.