Question

2) Diabetics have to inject insulin, but steroid users (or abusers) can just spread a steroid-containing gel on their skin. What fundamental difference between these two hormones explains these different delivery mechanisms?

Answer 1

The fundamental difference between these two hormones- means insulin and corticosteroid hormone which explains these different delivery mechanisms are following-

Insulin is majorly taken in by injecting it subcutaneously or very few times sub muscularly. This is because insulin consumed orally will get digested or broken down by the acidic pH of the stomach and it cannot fulfill the cause it is taken for. secondly insulin is required for slow release in body, that's why it it is taken subcutaneously so that it can easily and slowly passed into the blood stream . This ensures that the insulin is working properly.

The thing with the steroid containing gels which contain a mimic corticosteroid hormone released by our adrenal gland. This hormone can be taken orally or intravenously and even intramuscularly. This is because it is not being degraded into stomach .this means that it is broken down and being absorbed but like the way natural hormone does. Not like insulin because it is degraded in such a way that it can not be able to function in the body. Moreover, steroid containing gels have this hormone like the natural one and effects the body to prevent any kind of inflammation usually occuring on skin. These hormone can also be absorbed through skin and shows effects on skin depending upon the strength of hormone used in the gel or cream. This doesnot necessarily means that it that effective for other diseases as well.

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