Insulinindependent

Insulin-independent, or insulin independence, is a term used in physiology and medicine to describe a state in which glucose metabolism or glucose control does not require exogenous insulin. In physiology, certain tissues take up glucose without insulin signaling. The brain, red blood cells, and the liver rely on insulin-independent mechanisms through glucose transporters like GLUT1 and GLUT3, and their glucose uptake is driven largely by blood glucose levels. By contrast, muscle and adipose tissue primarily use insulin to promote glucose uptake via GLUT4, linking muscle metabolism to insulin signaling.

In clinical terms, insulin independence refers to a situation in which a person with diabetes no longer requires insulin injections or infusions to maintain acceptable blood glucose levels. This can occur with long-standing type 2 diabetes after significant weight loss or metabolic improvement, sometimes following bariatric surgery, or after pancreas or islet cell transplantation in selected patients. Some individuals with type 2 diabetes may achieve remission where glycemic control is maintained with lifestyle changes and non-insulin medications alone.

However, insulin independence is not universally permanent and does not imply a cure. It requires ongoing monitoring, as glycemic status can change with weight, illness, or other factors. Patients who lose insulin independence may need to resume insulin therapy or adjust treatment regimens.

See also: diabetes management, islet transplantation, bariatric surgery, glucose transporters, GLUT family.