Not long ago, the quest for beauty seemed to be limited to the mature rich and famous but while age and social status don’t seem to be a factor anymore, there still is some kind of price to pay. Sayidaty magazine spoke with Miymona Mustafa, a dermatologist and cosmetic specialist at Jazan General Hospital, who explained the negative and dangerous effects of using insulin for cosmetic reasons. 

Mustafa explains insulin is a hormone secreted by groups of cells within the pancreas. It is a major hormone that we can’t live without and the average person needs about 25-40 units of insulin per day. This hormone’s main function is to stabilize blood sugar levels. A deficiency or complete lack of insulin secretion leads to diabetes, the dermatologist says. Insulin deficiency can be treated by giving the patient medications to boost the production of insulin from the pancreas. And in case of lack of insulin production, patients must take daily doses of insulin all their lives.

Mustafa says that increased or excessive insulin may lead to serious conditions as a result of a sudden drop in blood sugar. The most affected organ is the central nervous system, the brain, which can cause convulsions and comas that may result in death or permanent brain damage. This can also lead to paralysis, speech and hearing difficulties or blindness. Plus most people using insulin don’t know its different types; for example, insulin can be of animal origin (cows, pigs) and may cause fatal allergic reactions that lead to death. In brief, this means that very low blood sugar levels can cause severe symptoms that can be prevented.

For the full story, get the August issue of Sayidaty (English).