Insight into insulin: Exploring the role of insulin in management of diabetes

As the high extracellular glucose is unable to enter cells without insulin as the co-factor, intracellular glucose remains low, causing a sensation of hunger (polyphagia). When extracellular glucose levels rise above renal threshold, it passes into urine causing osmotic diuresis (polyuria). This in turn leads to dehydration and thirst (polydipsia). When there is insufficient insulin to respond to this hyperglycaemia, the body uses alternative fuel sources.