insulinuafhængig

Insulinuafhængig is a Danish term that translates to "insulin-independent" in English. It is most commonly used in the context of diabetes mellitus. Specifically, it refers to a type of diabetes where the body does not require exogenous insulin injections to regulate blood glucose levels. This condition is typically associated with type 2 diabetes.

In type 2 diabetes, the body's cells become resistant to insulin, or the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to meet the body's needs. However, in many individuals with type 2 diabetes, lifestyle modifications such as diet, exercise, and oral medications are sufficient to manage blood sugar levels. These individuals are considered insulin-independent.

This is in contrast to type 1 diabetes, where the immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to an absolute deficiency of insulin. People with type 1 diabetes are therefore insulin-dependent and require lifelong insulin therapy. The term insulinuafhængig highlights a key distinction in the management and characteristics of different forms of diabetes, emphasizing that not all individuals diagnosed with diabetes will necessarily need insulin treatment.