In some sports, when the human body reaches its individual physiological limit, athletes begin to “chemically.” Injecting insulin in bodybuilding is officially allowed.

Moreover, without this peptide hormone, in bodybuilding, it is impossible to achieve body shapes that allow you to participate in professional competitions. However, the use of insulin in sports, as well as insulin mimetics and analogues of insulin-like growth factors-1 (IGF1), both during training and competition, is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Code.

Why do you inject insulin? The information, photos and videos in this article are primarily intended for amateurs or young people (and their parents) who are just planning to engage in bodybuilding or bodybuilding.

Important! Studies have shown that every fourth person is insulin resistant - body tissues give an inadequate response to the action of the insulin hormone. Since today bodybuilding and insulin are the only healthy combination, before starting training, with a further focus on the Miss or Mr. Olympia titles, it is recommended to undergo examinations and tests from a therapist and endocrinologist.

Insulin for bodybuilding athletes is an opportunity to build additional muscle mass in situations where the natural level of these indicators has already been reached.

Insulin is used in bodybuilding because of the following effects on the body:

• Anabolic effects. The main indicator of the use of insulin hormone. The anabolic effect of insulin allows you to increase muscle size:
  1. increase protein biosynthesis due to the absorption of more amino acids, magnesium and potassium phosphate by muscle cells;
  2. renew DNA faster;
  3. enhance the synthesis of fatty acids.
• Metabolic effects. Insulin injections can:
  1. enhance and accelerate the absorption of glucose into muscle tissue;
  2. activate the action of glycolysis enzymes;
  3. reduce glucose synthesis in the liver;
  4. intensify the production of glycogen in muscle cells.
• Anti-catabolic effect. This effect of insulin injections allows you to suppress the breakdown of proteins at the molecular level, but unfortunately, it slows down the process of fat breakdown.

For your information. Looking at the toned bodies of bodybuilders and female bodybuilders, you should understand that they inject insulin to gain muscle mass, but at the same time the strength of their muscle fibers does not increase, but remains the same. Therefore, bodybuilders are often compared to beautiful and large balloons, and real strongmen are compared to leather balls filled with sand.

Who can count on “easy” results?

If you become interested in bodybuilding, you should remember that achieving results will depend on “mom and dad.” People with different body types will react differently to the injection of the insulin hormone. We provide a table that will help determine your type of constitution and, accordingly, your “predisposition” to professionally engage in this sport.

Image	Constitutional features
	It is easiest to build muscle mass in people with physiologically high levels of somatotropin in the blood. Taking insulin does not cause increased fat secretion in them. The same volume of lipids that is nevertheless produced, after the end of the insulin course, quickly disappears with the help of small cardio loads and a short but strict low-carbohydrate diet. They are characterized by signs of ectomorphs, but with some nuances: thinness, with above average height; "broad bone"; oiliness – “enlarged” joints; large features of a rectangular face; blush (often, but not necessarily); dry skin, lack of acne and pimples. People with such physique features can count on fast and high achievements.
	For people with low levels of serotonin and high concentrations of glucocorticoids in the blood - those prone to obesity, as well as typical endomorphs - it is very difficult to achieve the heights of Olympia, but it is possible! Here are the distinctive body features that require long and persistent work not only in the gym, but also daily cardio training, an unconditional and constant low-carbohydrate diet, and instead of safe insulin, use hormonal anabolic steroids that are dangerous to health: pear-shaped body; short stature (not necessary, but often); rapid gain of fat mass; problems with losing excess weight; fat is deposited primarily on the stomach, buttocks and cheeks.

On a note. People who plan to engage in bodybuilding, but suffer from chronic gastritis, thyroid diseases or Cushing's syndrome, should prepare for the fact that insulin injections will have a negative effect - causing an increase in fat rather than muscle mass. All that remains is to use hormonal anabolics.

Effect of insulin injections on healthy people

What happens if you inject insulin into a healthy person?

Characteristic symptoms of decreased blood glucose depend on the dose of subcutaneous injection:

• 4 units on an empty stomach– increased appetite or feeling of hunger;
• 4 units after meals– no sensations;
• 20 units on an empty stomach– severe hunger and weakness, trembling of arms and legs, possible: increased blood pressure, nausea, headache, dilated pupils, impaired coordination of movements, sudden aggressiveness;
• 20 units after meals– hunger, weakness, trembling limbs;
• 40 units on an empty stomach– causes loss of consciousness in almost everyone.

On a note. To relieve the symptoms that have arisen, you need to quickly eat or drink something sweet, and if the symptoms are pronounced and numerous, an injection of adrenaline or glucagon will help. In case of deep loss of consciousness - hypoglycemic coma, only an intravenous injection of glucose will help, otherwise death will occur quite quickly.

Basic rules for “sports” insulin injections

How to take insulin for bodybuilding? There is no single answer to this question.

Everything is very individual and depends on many factors:

• number of workouts per week;
• time of day when the training takes place;
• assigned tasks;
• the time interval required to get into optimal shape;
• constitutional features of the physique.

Nevertheless, there are uniform rules that must be followed both at the beginning and during the continuation of a professional sports career:

• Insulin hormone should only be administered with an insulin syringe, and despite the thinness of its needle, the injection site should be wiped with an alcohol wipe, both before and after the injection;
• inject the drug only subcutaneously;
• use only short or ultra-short varieties of the hormone;
• localization of the injection - different points in the middle of the abdomen, thigh, buttock or shoulder;
• the angle of inclination of needle insertion into the skin-fat fold is 45 degrees;
• do not inject insulin hormone before training or bedtime;
• increase the insulin dose exclusively smoothly and gradually, starting from 2 units;
• never exceed the maximum permissible, safe dosage of 20 units;
• it is extremely correct to calculate the required volume of carbohydrate consumption (for 1 m/mol 9 (IU) of insulin you need 10 g of pure carbohydrates, which in terms of bread units is 0.5-0.7 XE), which must be eaten immediately after the injection, and It’s better to eat more, but not less, and the rest of the time you need to strictly adhere to a strict low-carb diet;
• during morning training, the injection is given after 90 minutes, and if the training took place in the evening, then it must be done at least 6 hours before it starts;
• The average course of sports insulin injection lasts 30-60 days, and the maximum should not exceed 4 months.

Debunking myths. Many people believe that long-term insulin consumption causes a decrease in the production of their own hormone. This is not true. The amount of your own hormone production remains the same!

With proper use of the insulin hormone, the pancreas will only become stronger. Pauses between insulin courses are necessary to prevent the production of antibodies and the development of insulin resistance. If your own insulin has dropped, it means you have diabetes.

What types of insulin are used in bodybuilding?

Today, the best insulin for bodybuilding is represented by the following insulin preparations:

• short-acting – Actrapid, Humulin regular;
• ultra-short action - Penfill, Flexpen.

Attention!!! The use of long-acting insulin hormones intended for maintenance therapy of diabetics is strictly prohibited!!!

What can you take additionally during a course of sports insulin therapy?

When using insulin for bodybuilding, it is not only possible, but also necessary to take the following drugs and drinks:

• highly carbonated alkaline mineral water - Essentuki-17, Essentuki-54, Luzhanskaya, Polyana Kvasova;
• one of the multivitamins, daily, in permissibly large dosages - complivit, olamine, supradin;
• dried fruits containing potassium (only after meals) - dried bananas or dried banana chips, dried apricots, raisins;
• fat burning drugs – carnitine, clenbuterol;
• adaptogenic tinctures – Manchurian aralia, rosea radiola, zamanikha, eleutherococcus;
• vitamins – nicotinic acid, calcium pantothenate.

Insulin, somatotropin and the inevitability of hormonal anabolics

Today in the world of bodybuilding it has become “fashionable” to use growth hormone (GH), which helps burn fat. However, many, even experienced athletes, make the mistake of injecting growth hormone during an insulin course. This should not be done under any circumstances, because these two hormones, in essence, are direct antagonists.

Archive important! Even new generation insulins must be injected in a separate course. Only after its completion can injections of somatotropin be given. Taking it at the same time will kill the pancreas.

However, there is one more nuance. Insulin shots increase muscle mass, but do not improve the strength of ligaments and tendons, which can cause sports injuries. This requires hormonal anabolic steroids (GAS), so the general “chemical” scheme for professional bodybuilders is as follows: Insulin -> GAS -> GH -> GAS -> Insulin.

And in conclusion, let us remind you once again that injecting insulin hormone is recommended only for professional bodybuilders, dancers, fashion models, strippers or actors - people who make a living with a beautiful body. For those who simply want to maintain an athletic figure, insulin injections are not needed, and their use is in no way justified.

Insulin is a transport hormone produced in the cells of the endocrine pancreas. The task of this peptide is to reduce blood sugar levels, that is, to significantly reduce the concentration of glucose.

Insulin is widely used in bodybuilding, and this is no coincidence. This peptide gives a powerful anabolic effect. In addition, insulin is an anti-catabolic drug, as it activates the enzyme glycolysis and stimulates the formation of glycogen and glucose in the body, enhancing the synthesis of protein and fats. It is important that insulin has the ability to suppress the activity of enzymes that break down fats and glycogens. The above properties of this peptide make it clear why it is an anti-catabolic drug.

You should know that the transport hormone (insulin) is a very strong and serious hormone, so it is strictly forbidden for novice athletes to use it. The main reason for this is the serious harm to the body that insulin can cause from improper use and dosage. Cases of death have also been recorded.

The main advantage and advantage of insulin over other peptides is that it is a transport hormone. The role of insulin is to transport nutrients into the body's cells, namely carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids and fats.

Carbohydrates transported by insulin give us an increase in energy, proteins and amino acids - growth of muscle mass, fats - respectively, saturating the body with necessary fats. Insulin both helps in muscle growth and fat gain. To accumulate as little body fat as possible, you must follow two rules:

1. Diet. Add more protein foods to your diet and fewer carbohydrates. Eliminate fast carbohydrates altogether.
2. Know your body. If you are prone to rapid gain of fatty tissue, then insulin can only cause harm. Insulin works better on ectomorphs and mesomorphs.

Insulin has the ability to transport all nutrients and work in different ways. The hormone can work more towards building muscle mass, or maybe towards gaining fat tissue. In any case, gaining lean muscle mass using insulin without gaining fat will be almost impossible.

If you are naturally thin and have thin bones, then the transport hormone will be more beneficial than time, naturally, if you follow the rules for taking it. Ectomorphs have lower insulin resistance. If you are an endomorph and prone to gaining fat quickly, then you have increased resistance to insulin, and it will transport mainly fat. Therefore, it is not recommended for endomorphs to use the transport hormone.

1. Anabolic effect.
2. Metabolism effect.
3. Anti-catabolic effect.

The effect is anabolic.

As you know, insulin helps absorb as many amino acids as possible into muscle cells. Valine and leucine are best absorbed; they are independent amino acids. The hormone also renews DNA, transport of magnesium, phosphate and protein biosynthesis. With the help of insulin, the synthesis of fatty acids is enhanced, which are absorbed into adipose tissue and the liver. When there is not enough insulin in the blood, fat mobilization occurs.

Anti-catabolic effect.

The transport hormone suppresses the breakdown of protein molecules, which consist of amino acids, and also reduces the process of fat breakdown and reduces their entry into the blood.

Metabolic effect.

Insulin enhances the absorption of glucose by muscle cells and also activates some glycolytic enzymes. Insulin has the property of intensively synthesizing glycogen and other substances into muscles, as well as significantly reducing gluconeogenesis, that is, the formation of glucose in the liver.

The use of insulin in bodybuilding

In bodybuilding, only short-acting or ultra-short-acting insulin is used.

Short-acting insulin works as follows: after subcutaneous administration (injection), it begins to act within half an hour. Insulin must be administered half an hour before meals. The maximum effect of insulin reaches 120 minutes after its administration, and completely stops its transport work in the body after 6 hours.

The best time-tested drugs are Actrapid NM and Humulin Regular.

Ultra-short-acting insulin works on the following principle: after it is introduced into the blood, it begins to do its job within 10 minutes, and maximum efficiency is achieved after 120 minutes. Ultra-fast insulin stops working after 3-4 hours. After insulin has been administered, you must immediately eat food, or after eating it, administer a transport hormone.

There are two best ultra-short insulin preparations: Penfill or FlexPen.

The cost of a sixty-day course of insulin will be approximately 2-3 thousand Russian rubles. Therefore, low-income athletes can train with the help of insulin.

Let's talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the transport hormone.

Advantages:

1. The course consists of 60 days, which means a short period of time.
2. The quality of the drug is at a high level. The probability of buying a fake is 1% when compared with anabolic steroids.
3. Insulin is available. It can be bought at any pharmacy without a doctor's prescription.
4. The hormone has high anabolic properties.
5. The likelihood of side effects is low, provided the course is drawn up correctly.
6. At the end of the course, there is no need to carry out post-cycle therapy, since insulin leaves no consequences.
7. The rollback after completing the course is relatively small.
8. It can be used not solo, but with other peptides and anabolic steroids.
9. There is no androgenic effect on the human body.
10. Insulin does not harm the liver and kidneys, and also does not have toxic effects on them. Does not cause potency problems after the course.

Flaws:

1. Low glucose levels in the body (below 3.3 mmol/l).
2. Increase in adipose tissue during the course.
3. Complex dosage regimen.

As you can see, insulin has three times more advantages than disadvantages. This means that insulin is one of the best pharmacological drugs.

Side effect of insulin.

The first and most significant side effect is hypoglycemia, that is, low blood glucose. Hypoglycemia is characterized as follows: limbs begin to shake, loss of consciousness, loss of understanding of what is happening around, and profuse sweating. Low glucose levels are also accompanied by loss of coordination and orientation, and a strong feeling of hunger. The heartbeat begins to increase. All of the above are symptoms of hypoglycemia.

It is very important to know the following: if you recognize obvious symptoms of glucose deficiency, then you urgently need to replenish your body with sweets in order to bring the blood glucose level back to normal.

The next side effect, but a minor one, is itching and irritation at the injection site.

Allergies are rare but minor.

If you take insulin for a long enough time, your endogenous secretion of your own insulin is significantly reduced. This is also possible due to an overdose of insulin.

Well.

Now we know what types of insulin there are, and which one is best for us. The next task is to correctly schedule an insulin course for 30-60 days. It is very important not to cycle for more than two months to allow the body to produce its own secretion. If you follow the instructions correctly, then with one course of insulin you can gain up to 10 kilograms of lean muscle mass.

It is very important to immediately start with small doses of up to two units subcutaneously, and slowly increase the dose to 20 units. This is necessary in order to initially check how the body will accept insulin. It is strongly not recommended to take more than 20 units per day.

Before you start using transport hormone, you need to pay attention to 2 factors:

1. Start with a small dose and gradually increase it until you reach 20 units. It is forbidden to switch abruptly from 2 to 6 units, or from 10 to 20! A sudden transition can bring bad consequences to your body.
2. Do not go beyond twenty units. Whoever recommends taking almost 50 units, don’t listen to them, since each body takes insulin differently (20 units may seem like a lot to some).

The frequency of taking insulin may vary (every day, or every other day, once a day, or more). If you take the course every day and even several times, then the total duration of the course must be reduced. If you take the course every other day, then 60 days will be enough for this.

It is strongly recommended to inject insulin only after strength training, and then eat food rich in proteins and long-term carbohydrates. You need to inject immediately after training, since the transport hormone, as mentioned earlier, has an anti-catabolic effect. It suppresses the process of catabolism, which is caused by intense physical activity.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that using insulin after a good workout has some other advantages: when you bring the body to almost hypoglycemia, which is caused by the administration of insulin, this affects the natural decrease in blood glucose. After training, it is thrown out a lot. It is not recommended to inject insulin at other times of the day. If you train 3 times a week and rest the other 4 days, you can take the injection in the morning before breakfast on non-training days. In this case, it is strongly recommended to use short-acting insulin (Actapid) and eat a full meal half an hour after the injection. On training days only immediately after training.

The conclusion suggests itself: if you inject the transport hormone every day, then our course should not exceed more than 30 days. If we have a gentle or economical regime, then we travel for 60 days. On the day of training after it we use ultra-short-acting insulin (Novorapid), and on rest days we use short-acting insulin (Actrapid) before breakfast.

If a “short” hormone is used, then we give the injection half an hour before the main meal.

If we use “ultra-short” injection, we give the injection immediately after the main meal.

To ensure that the injection takes place without itching and allergies, and the skin does not harden at the injection site, they need to be given to different parts of the body.

The main mistakes in taking transport hormone.

Error one- large doses and incorrect time of application. Start with small doses and watch the body's reaction.

Error two- incorrectly placed injection. You need to inject subcutaneously.

Error three- the use of insulin before training and before bedtime, which is strictly prohibited.

Error four- a small meal after taking insulin. It is necessary to eat as much carbohydrates and proteins as possible, since the transport hormone will quickly distribute the necessary enzymes to the muscles. If you do not saturate the body with carbohydrates as much as possible, then there is a possible risk of hypoglycemia.

Error five- use of insulin in the drying stage. The fact is that your diet contains few or no carbohydrates. Again, it leads to a sharp decrease in blood glucose, and it will have to be replenished with something sweet. And sweets, as we know, are a source of fast carbohydrates that are not needed during the drying phase of the body.

List and quantity of products used after injection.

The required amount of nutrients that you need to eat will directly depend on the dosage of the transport hormone. The average sugar level in human blood, provided that he is healthy, is 3-5 mmol/l. One unit of insulin lowers blood sugar by 2.2 mmol/l. This means that if we inject even a few units of insulin at a time, we can easily get hypoglycemia. If you do not replenish your blood glucose supply in time, you can die. It is very important to eat as many carbohydrates as possible after the injection.

Calculations.

Insulin is a hormone that belongs to the endocrinology department. There is the concept of “bread unit”, abbreviated as XE. One unit of bread contains 15 grams of carbohydrates. Just that 1 unit of bread increases sugar levels by 2.8 mmol/l. If, through carelessness or for some other reason, you injected 10 units, then you need to consume 5-7 XE, which translated into carbohydrates is 60-75. Consider the fact that carbohydrates are considered in their pure form.

Before injecting insulin, you need to stock up on some sweet product (sugar, honey, chocolate, etc.). This will ensure your safety in case of hypoglycemia.

You need to inject the hormone with a special syringe, it’s called an insulin syringe.

This syringe is much thinner than a regular one, and there is a small cube division scale on it. A full insulin syringe can hold one cube, that is, 1 ml. The divisions on the syringe are divided into 40 pieces. It is vitally important not to confuse a regular syringe with an insulin syringe, otherwise an overdose of this drug will be fatal. The injection should be done at an angle of 45 degrees.

Before use, dial up the required amount of insulin, take it with your left hand and make a fold in the skin, preferably on the stomach, then insert the needle at a 45-degree angle, and then insert the insulin. Hold it for a few seconds and remove the needle from the skin. Do not inject in one place all the time.

Do not be afraid that an infection will get into the injection site. The needle of an insulin syringe is very small, so there is no risk of infection. If you had to inject with a regular syringe, you need to thoroughly wash your hands and coat the area where the injection will be given with alcohol.

To get the maximum effect from an insulin course, we need to take into account three main rules:

1. Following a diet to gain weight.
2. Train productively.
3. Have a good rest.

Is it possible to combine insulin with anabolic steroids?

It is possible to combine insulin with other pharmacological drugs, as this is justified. The combination in 99% of cases gives a more powerful effect than insulin alone. You can use insulin with another drug from the beginning to the end of the transport hormone course. It is best to continue taking insulin for 14-21 days, so that the rebound is as small as possible.

It is important to know that any pharmacological drug, including insulin, can only be taken by professional athletes who live by bodybuilding and make a living from it. If your goal is simply to keep in shape, then forget about “chemistry”, as it is not justified in any way.

If a person has diabetes, then of course he needs a dose of insulin.

Do not risk your health in order to get the desired result as quickly as possible. If you have firmly decided that you want to engage in professional bodybuilding and be a performing athlete, then first reach your natural limit, when you can no longer gain lean muscle mass in a natural way. In general, you need to reach your natural “ceiling”, and then start “chemically”.

Remember that before using any pharmacological drug you need to be fully examined. It is not necessary to take any tests if you are taking insulin alone. If you use insulin with something else, then you need to take the necessary tests before, during and after the course. Also, don’t forget about post-cycle therapy.

Bottom line

As a result, you need to remember a few rules for using insulin so that it does not cause harm:

1. Know your body, make sure it is in order and ready to use insulin.
2. Approach the course correctly and with full responsibility.
3. Follow a strict diet and training regimen in order to gain maximum weight during the course.

If you have clearly decided that you want to take a course, then it is recommended to start with insulin alone in order to study the reaction of your body, since it will be difficult to figure out the use of other drugs if any complications arise in the body. It is best not to use pharmacological drugs at all, since it is unknown how they will affect your body.

Based on materials from: steelsports.ru

Rich Piana about insulin - Video

Insulin in bodybuilding

Insulin is not an anabolic steroid, but a polypeptide hormone that accumulates in the pancreas. Insulin is released in the beta cells of the pancreas.

Primarily, insulin is responsible for the separation of nutrients in the body. As soon as you eat food, stored insulin is released, whose job is to transport nutrients to various places such as the liver, muscles, fat tissue and brain.

The reason insulin is used in bodybuilding is because of growth hormone. Here it acts as a substance that activates the action of anabolic steroids, insulin-like growth factor 1 and especially growth hormone.

Read more about the use of insulin in bodybuilding below in the articles I collected on this topic.

Insulin is a transport hormone produced in the cells of the endocrine pancreas. The task of this peptide is to reduce blood sugar levels, that is, to significantly reduce the concentration of glucose. Insulin is widely used in bodybuilding, and this is no coincidence.

This peptide gives a powerful anabolic effect. In addition, insulin is an anti-catabolic drug, as it activates the enzyme glycolysis and stimulates the formation of glycogen in the body, enhancing the synthesis of protein and fat.

It is important that insulin has the ability to suppress the activity of enzymes that break down fats and glycogens. The above properties of this peptide make it clear why it is an anti-catabolic drug.

You should know that the transport hormone (insulin) is a very strong and serious hormone, so it is strictly forbidden for novice athletes to use it. The main reason for this is the serious harm to the body that insulin can cause from improper use and dosage. Cases of death have also been recorded.

The main advantage and advantage of insulin over other peptides is that it is a transport hormone. The role of insulin is to transport nutrients into the body's cells, namely proteins, amino acids and fats.

Carbohydrates transported by insulin give us an increase in energy, proteins and amino acids - growth of muscle mass, fats - accordingly saturating the body with necessary fats. Insulin both helps in muscle growth and fat gain. To accumulate as little body fat as possible, you must follow two rules:

1. Diet. Add more protein foods to your diet and fewer carbohydrates. exclude it altogether.
2. Know your body. If you are prone to rapid gain of fatty tissue, then insulin can only cause harm. Insulin works better on ectomorphs and mesomorphs.

Insulin has the ability to transport all nutrients and work in different ways. The hormone can work more towards building muscle mass, or maybe towards gaining fat tissue. In any case, gaining lean muscle mass using insulin without gaining fat will be almost impossible.

If you are naturally thin and have thin bones, then the transport hormone will be more beneficial than time, naturally, if you follow the rules for taking it. Ectomorphs have lower insulin resistance.

If you are an endomorph and prone to gaining fat quickly, then you have increased resistance to insulin, and it will transport mainly fat. Therefore, it is not recommended for endomorphs to use the transport hormone.

The transport hormone has many effects, the three most important of which are:

• Anabolic effect.
• Metabolism effect.
• Anti-catabolic effect.

Anabolic effect

As you know, insulin helps absorb as many amino acids as possible into muscle cells. Valine and leucine are best absorbed; they are independent amino acids. The hormone also renews DNA, transport of magnesium, potassium phosphate and protein biosynthesis. With the help of insulin, the synthesis of fatty acids is enhanced, which are absorbed into adipose tissue and the liver. When there is not enough insulin in the blood, fat mobilization occurs.

Anti-catabolic effect

The transport hormone suppresses the breakdown of protein molecules, which consist of amino acids, and also reduces the process of fat breakdown and reduces their entry into the blood.

Metabolic effect

Insulin enhances the absorption of glucose by muscle cells and also activates some glycolytic enzymes. Insulin has the property of intensively synthesizing glycogen and other substances into muscles, as well as significantly reducing gluconeogenesis, that is, the formation of glucose in the liver. In bodybuilding, only short-acting or ultra-short-acting insulin is used.

Short-acting insulin works as follows: after subcutaneous administration (injection), it begins to act within half an hour. Insulin must be administered half an hour before meals. The maximum effect of insulin reaches 120 minutes after its administration, and completely stops its transport work in the body after 6 hours. The best time-tested drugs are Actrapid NM and Humulin Regular.

Actrapid NM and Humulin regular

Ultra-short-acting insulin works on the following principle: after it is introduced into the blood, it begins to do its job within 10 minutes, and maximum efficiency is achieved after 120 minutes. Ultra-fast insulin stops working after 3-4 hours. After insulin has been administered, you must immediately eat food, or after eating it, administer a transport hormone. There are two best ultra-short insulin preparations: Penfill or FlexPen.

Penfill and FlexPen

The cost of a sixty-day course of insulin will be approximately 2-3 thousand Russian rubles. Therefore, low-income athletes can train with the help of insulin. Let's talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the transport hormone.

Advantages:

• The course consists of 60 days, which means a short period of time.
• The quality of the drug is at a high level. The probability of buying a fake is 1% when compared with anabolic steroids.
• Insulin is available. It can be bought at any pharmacy without a doctor's prescription.
• The hormone has high anabolic properties.
• The likelihood of side effects is low, provided the course is drawn up correctly.
• At the end of the course, there is no need to carry out post-cycle therapy, since insulin leaves no consequences.
• The rollback after completing the course is relatively small.
• It can be used not solo, but with other peptides and anabolic steroids.
• There is no androgenic effect on the human body.
• Insulin does not harm the liver and kidneys, and also does not have toxic effects on them. Does not cause potency problems after the course.

Flaws:

As you can see, insulin has three times more advantages than disadvantages. This means that insulin is one of the best pharmacological drugs.

Side effect of insulin

The first and most significant side effect is hypoglycemia, that is, low blood glucose. Hypoglycemia is characterized as follows: limbs begin to shake, loss of consciousness, loss of understanding of what is happening around, and profuse sweating.

Low glucose levels are also accompanied by loss of coordination and orientation, and a strong feeling of hunger. The heartbeat begins to increase. All of the above are symptoms of hypoglycemia. It is very important to know the following: if you recognize obvious symptoms of glucose deficiency, then you urgently need to replenish your body with sweets in order to bring the blood glucose level back to normal.

The next side effect, but a minor one, is itching and irritation at the injection site. Allergies are rare but minor. If you take insulin for a long enough time, your endogenous secretion of your own insulin is significantly reduced. This is also possible due to an overdose of insulin.

Now we know what types of insulin there are, and which one is best for us. The next task is to correctly schedule an insulin course for 30-60 days. It is very important not to cycle for more than two months to allow the body to produce its own secretion. If you follow the instructions correctly, then with one course of insulin you can gain up to 10 kilograms of lean muscle mass.

It is very important to immediately start with small doses of up to two units subcutaneously, and slowly increase the dose to 20 units. This is necessary in order to initially check how the body will accept insulin. It is strongly not recommended to take more than 20 units per day.

Before you start using transport hormone, you need to pay attention to 2 factors:

Start with a small dose and gradually increase it until you reach 20 units. It is forbidden to switch abruptly from 2 to 6 units, or from 10 to 20! A sudden transition can bring bad consequences to your body.

Do not go beyond twenty units. Whoever recommends taking almost 50 units, don’t listen to them, since each body takes insulin differently (20 units may seem like a lot to some).
The frequency of taking insulin may vary (every day, or every other day, once a day, or more).

If you take the course every day and even several times, then the total duration of the course must be reduced. If you take the course every other day, then 60 days will be enough for this. It is strongly recommended to inject insulin only after strength training, and then eat food rich in proteins and long-term carbohydrates.

You need to inject immediately after training, since the transport hormone, as mentioned earlier, has an anti-catabolic effect. It suppresses the process of catabolism, which is caused by intense physical activity.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that using insulin after a good workout has some other advantages: when you bring the body to almost hypoglycemia, which is caused by the administration of insulin, this affects the natural decrease in blood glucose.

After a workout, growth hormone is released heavily. It is not recommended to inject insulin at other times of the day. If you train 3 times a week and rest the other 4 days, you can take the injection in the morning before breakfast on non-training days. In this case, it is strongly recommended to use short-acting insulin (Actapid) and eat a full meal half an hour after the injection. On training days only immediately after training.

The conclusion suggests itself: if you inject the transport hormone every day, then our course should not exceed more than 30 days. If we have a gentle or economical regime, then we travel for 60 days. On the day of training after it we use ultra-short-acting insulin (Novorapid), and on rest days we use short-acting insulin (Actrapid) before breakfast.

If a “short” hormone is used, then we give the injection half an hour before the main meal. If we use “ultra-short” injection, we give the injection immediately after the main meal. To ensure that the injection takes place without itching and allergies, and the skin does not harden at the injection site, they need to be given to different parts of the body. To calculate the required amount of insulin required, you need to take into account 10 grams of carbohydrates per unit of insulin.

The main mistakes in taking transport hormone

• The first mistake is large doses and incorrect application time. Start with small doses and watch the body's reaction.
• The second mistake is an incorrectly placed injection. You need to inject subcutaneously.
• The third mistake is using insulin before training and before bed, which is strictly prohibited.
• The fourth mistake is a small meal after using insulin. It is necessary to eat as much carbohydrates and proteins as possible, since the transport hormone will quickly distribute the necessary enzymes to the muscles. If you do not saturate the body with carbohydrates as much as possible, then there is a possible risk of hypoglycemia.
• The fifth mistake is the use of insulin at the drying stage. The fact is that your diet contains few or no carbohydrates. Again, it leads to a sharp decrease in blood glucose, and it will have to be replenished with something sweet. And sweets, as we know, are a source of fast carbohydrates that are not needed during the drying phase of the body.

List and quantity of products used after injection

The required amount of nutrients that you need to eat will directly depend on the dosage of the transport hormone. The average sugar level in human blood, provided that he is healthy, is 3-5 mmol/l. One unit of insulin lowers blood sugar by 2.2 mmol/l.

This means that if we inject even a few units of insulin at a time, we can easily get hypoglycemia. If you do not replenish your blood glucose supply in time, you can die. It is very important to eat as many carbohydrates as possible after the injection.

Insulin is a hormone that belongs to the endocrinology department. There is the concept of “bread unit”, abbreviated as XE. One unit of bread contains 15 grams of carbohydrates. Just that 1 unit of bread increases sugar levels by 2.8 mmol/l. If, through carelessness or for some other reason, you injected 10 units, then you need to consume 5-7 XE, which translated into carbohydrates is 60-75. Consider the fact that carbohydrates are considered in their pure form.

How to inject insulin correctly

Before injecting insulin, you need to stock up on some sweet product (sugar, honey, chocolate, etc.). This will ensure your safety in case of hypoglycemia. You need to inject the hormone with a special syringe, it’s called.

This syringe is much thinner than a regular one, and there is a small cube division scale on it. A full insulin syringe can hold one cube, that is, 1 ml. The divisions on the syringe are divided into 40 pieces. It is vitally important not to confuse a regular syringe with an insulin syringe, otherwise an overdose of this drug will be fatal. The injection should be done at an angle of 45 degrees.

Before use, dial up the required amount of insulin, take it with your left hand and make a fold in the skin, preferably on the stomach, then insert the needle at a 45-degree angle, and then insert the insulin. Hold it for a few seconds and remove the needle from the skin. Do not inject in one place all the time.

Do not be afraid that an infection will get into the injection site. The needle of an insulin syringe is very small, so there is no risk of infection. If you had to inject with a regular syringe, you need to thoroughly wash your hands and coat the area where the injection will be given with alcohol.

To get the maximum effect from an insulin course, we need to take into account three main rules:

1. Following a diet to gain weight.
2. Train productively.
3. Have a good rest.

Is it possible to combine insulin with anabolic steroids?

It is possible to combine insulin with other pharmacological drugs, as this is justified. The combination in 99% of cases gives a more powerful effect than insulin alone. You can use insulin with another drug from the beginning to the end of the transport hormone course. It is best to continue taking insulin for 14-21 days, so that the rebound is as small as possible.

It is important to know that any pharmacological drug, including insulin, can only be taken by professional athletes who live by bodybuilding and make a living from it. If your goal is simply to keep in shape, then forget about “chemistry”, as it is not justified in any way. If a person has diabetes, then of course he needs a dose of insulin.

Do not risk your health in order to get the desired result as quickly as possible. If you have firmly decided that you want to engage in professional bodybuilding and be a performing athlete, then first reach your natural limit, when you can no longer gain lean muscle mass in a natural way. In general, you need to reach your natural “ceiling”, and then start “chemically”.

Remember that before using any pharmacological drug you need to be fully examined. It is not necessary to take any tests if you are taking insulin alone. If you use insulin with something else, then you need to take the necessary tests before, during and after the course. Also, don’t forget about post-cycle therapy.

As a result, you need to remember a few rules for using insulin so that it does not cause harm:

If you have clearly decided that you want to take a course, then it is recommended to start with insulin alone in order to study the reaction of your body, since it will be difficult to figure out the use of other drugs if any complications arise in the body. It is best not to use pharmacological drugs at all, since it is unknown how they will affect your body.

Source: https://builderbody.ru/insulin-v-bodibildinge/

Read more about using insulin in bodybuilding

Insulin is a specific hormone that is produced by the pancreas of humans and animals. Serves to regulate blood glucose levels. In addition, it affects metabolism in almost the entire body.

Attention!

The discovery of insulin dates back to 1869, when the German physician Paul Langerhans discovered hitherto unknown cells that produced a specific substance. Later, thanks to the work of both domestic and foreign scientists, insulin itself was discovered, and its effect on blood sugar levels was proven.

Of course, no one could have imagined then that insulin would enter the sports anabolic scene. Initially, it was synthesized for patients with diabetes - so that they would not suffer from changes in glucose in the body. However, athletes noticed that insulin, in addition to this effect, promotes an increase in the level of glycogen, a powerful muscle growth factor.

Insulin has been used as a sports anabolic for quite some time. And here are the reasons:

• it accelerates glycogen synthesis in the athlete’s body;
• Insulin effectively breaks down fat cells, but produces a lot of protein - bodybuilders simply had to take advantage of this wonderful property. Which is exactly what they did;
• insulin lowers blood sugar;
• insulin speeds up metabolism in the body;
• it inhibits oxidation processes, therefore, contributes to the rapid recovery of the athlete after a hard workout.

As a result, an athlete who takes insulin regularly builds muscle mass quite quickly, while effectively burning body fat. He recovers quickly and can work with greater efficiency. The effect, as they say, is obvious.

It would seem that if everything is so wonderful, then why not all bodybuilders around the world use insulin therapy? However, as always happens, everything is far from so simple.

Precautions when taking insulin

The main danger with an insulin overdose lies in a sharp drop in blood glucose levels. This is called hypoglycemia. Deadly dangerous! In this case, the lethal dose can be even 100 units - that is, a full insulin syringe. Since the person is not diabetic, the sugar level rapidly drops to unacceptable levels - as a result, diabetes can develop, and then death occurs.

However, in practice, even with 300 units, as a rule, people survive. The consequences of an overdose do not occur immediately, but develop over several hours. This could be convulsions, loss of orientation, etc. During this time, the victim himself or his friends have time to call an ambulance or take any action themselves. Therefore the person remains alive.

It is worth noting that in bodybuilding, as a rule, so-called short-acting or ultra-short-acting insulin is used. This means that its effect begins within 15-30 minutes and increases over the course of 2-3 hours. Then the effect of insulin begins to decline - and after 5-6 hours there is no trace of it left in the body. Therefore, the athlete gives an insulin injection about half an hour before training.

There are specially designed courses of taking insulin for sports purposes. There are several types of them. However, the general point is to prevent an overdose and ensure an influx of insulin in the form of standardized doses directly for training purposes.

It is recommended to start the course with approximately 2 units, gradually increasing the dose by 2 units, carefully monitoring your well-being. It is very important before starting the course to study all the side effects of insulin and ways to overcome the state of hypoglycemia.

As for the time of introduction, opinions differ here. Some recommend taking it 30-40 minutes before training, because this is when insulin begins to take effect. Others - immediately after. The rationale for this is that you can eat immediately after exercise, thus closing the carbohydrate window and ensuring an influx of sugar into the blood.

The duration of the course should not exceed two months. If you feel the slightest deterioration, you should immediately stop the course. If necessary, consult a doctor.

Side effects of insulin

This is not necessarily hypoglycemia itself, which occurs only with a sharp drop in sugar. Side effects can develop individually and are expressed in: general weakness, dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, strong appetite, increased sweating, tingling sensation in various parts of the body, scabies, increased nervousness.

If such symptoms are noticed, the athlete should stop taking insulin and be sure to eat or drink something sweet. In addition, sudden withdrawal and hypoglycemia are also fraught with death. Experienced bodybuilders know how to properly get out of this state. Moreover, they may deliberately put themselves into a state of mild hypoglycemia to maintain a constant insulin effect.

Pros and cons of taking insulin for bodybuilding

The advantages of an insulin course include:

There are not so few disadvantages, but... they are deadly dangerous:

Source: https://do4a.com/wiki/%D0%98%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%83%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BD

Insulin for bodybuilders: is it worth using?

Injectable insulin has been used in bodybuilding for a long time. This hormone lowers blood sugar levels and promotes the secretion of somatotropin, which causes an increase in anabolic processes. The method of building muscle mass with the help of this drug has been known for a long time, but it has side effects, so it is rarely used by beginners.

The effect of taking insulin

Insulin is a peptide hormone. Has a complex effect:

• increases the permeability of cell membranes to glucose, provides better nutrition and accelerates metabolic processes;
• reduces blood sugar levels, promotes the secretion of somatotropin;
• suppresses catabolic processes (the breakdown of glycogen and fats);
• activates glycolysis enzymes;
• blocks neoglucogenesis in the liver;
• enhances DNA replication and stimulates protein synthesis;
• increases the permeability of cell membranes to amino acids.

Insulin may not be suitable for those seeking to gain lean mass, those losing weight, or those wishing to use anti-catabolic drugs. This hormone blocks lipolysis and promotes the preservation of body fat mass. If you combine its intake with a diet with a calorie surplus, it is also possible to gain some fat mass.

In general, the use of insulin in bodybuilding is a solution for those who practice classic mass-gaining and “cutting” cycles. The initial dosage is calculated at the rate of 1 IU per 5-10 kg of body weight. Some athletes consume up to 2 IU for the same amount of weight.

The peculiarity of this drug is that the reaction to insulin may differ. The dosage is therefore selected individually from the general scheme; how to use insulin in bodybuilding in conjunction with other advances in pharmacology must be determined by the trainer.

The injection is given immediately after exercise to lower blood sugar levels. After 15 minutes, you need to drink a sweet drink or eat something containing sugar. An hour after this, it is time for a regular meal rich in complete protein. Sometimes insulin is administered early in the morning, immediately after waking up. After 15 minutes, a carbohydrate drink is drunk, and an hour later breakfast is taken.

The drug is injected with an insulin syringe into a skin fold on the abdomen. Some people use injections into the thigh or triceps, but they are quite painful. The insulin ampoule should be well cooled and insulated from high temperatures if the substance is carried with you to the gym in a bag.

Injections are given in a course of no more than 2 months, ideally. Some people take the duration up to 4 months. It is imperative to take long breaks, commensurate with the duration of the course, so that the pancreas does not lose the ability to produce the hormone on its own.

Important: The process of determining the effectiveness of a drug based on how you feel is not widespread abroad. Athletes who practice this type of mass gain usually use. This is an electronic measuring device.

It is purchased at the pharmacy along with test strips. Measurements are taken 3-4 minutes after insulin administration, and after 15 minutes to evaluate the result again. If your sugar level drops below 4.3 units, preventive measures should be taken immediately.

Side effects

Incorrect dosage determination can have serious consequences. Side effects of insulin occur when large amounts are administered. An excess of this hormone causes hypoglycemia - a critical decrease in sugar levels. If you experience dizziness, cold sweat, confusion, photophobia or weakness, you should immediately take sweet food.

Drowsiness after injection may also be a sign of hypoglycemia. If symptoms do not disappear, it is advisable to call an ambulance, as hypoglycemia can be fatal. Long courses without a break can provoke diabetes. The pancreas gradually reduces the level of natural insulin secretion if the hormone is administered by injection.

At the level of scientific research, it was revealed that the tissues of this organ also change, so the process may be irreversible. At the same time, no more or less reasonable recommendation regarding the duration of the course is given for athletes. Therefore, the process is always quite risky.

Reviews about insulin

Typically, reviews about insulin in bodybuilding are written by people who are seriously passionate about bodybuilding. Gaining muscle mass with this hormone is not for those who want a quick beach transformation. It requires consistent decisions in training and diet.

Most users note a good mass-gaining effect, as they say, for minimal money. The drug is purchased at a pharmacy and is a prescription drug. However, many people claim that some pharmacists are happy to offer it without any paperwork.

There are also reviews from people who have gained up to 10-12 kilograms of weight on this course of insulin. At the same time, some have encountered hypoglycemia and say how important it is to constantly carry a juice box and something sweet with you in order to prevent its negative impact on the body in time.

Source: http://4rama.com/threads/insulin-v-bodibildinge.283/

Insulin: Essential for a bodybuilder

You can write a lot about insulin, you can even compose a whole book. Alas, pressed by the editor-in-chief, the author was forced to limit himself to just one not very long article. Of course, you can’t tell about all the delights of this drug, so don’t judge strictly - it’s all due to lack of space, and my knowledge significantly exceeds the amount of what’s written.

Insulin entered the practice of bodybuilding not so long ago, but, according to some reviews, it has proven itself to be an unrivaled anabolic. I will not label some respected experts as “ignorant”, who consider the anabolic properties of insulin to be so outstanding that even anabolic steroids have a rest next to it, but I will carefully express my own opinion - for an adult, this hormone is not an anabolic steroid at all!

Based on this fact, as well as the potential risk not only to health, but to life itself from the use of insulin, many foreign “gurus” recommend excluding it from the bodybuilding arsenal. But you and I are reasonable people, we will not give in to emotions and rush from one extreme to another, but will simply try to calmly figure everything out.

Insulin and its mechanism of action

Insulin is a hormone secreted by pancreatic cells. Chemically, it is a polypeptide that includes two polypeptide chains: one consists of 21 amino acids, the second of 30; these chains are connected by two disulfide bridges.

Cells that produce hormones (many hormones, not just insulin) are concentrated in the pancreas in the form of islets called islets of Langerhans. In an adult, there are from 170 thousand to 2 million such islets, but their total mass does not exceed 1.5% of the mass of the pancreas.

Among the islet cells there are six different types, about 75% of them are b-cells, in which, in fact, insulin synthesis occurs. This process occurs in three stages: first, proproinsulin is formed; then the hydrophobic fragment is split off from it and proinsulin remains; then the vesicle with proinsulin is transferred to the Golgi apparatus, where a fragment is cleaved from it, resulting in insulin.

Glucose triggers the mechanism of insulin secretion. Penetrating into b-cells, glucose is metabolized and contributes to an increase in the intracellular ATP content. Adenosine triphosphate, in turn, causes depolarization of the cell membrane, which promotes the penetration of calcium ions into b-cells and the release of insulin.

It should be said that the production of insulin, in addition to glucose, can be stimulated by fatty acids and amino acids. Insulin was isolated in 1921 by Canadian scientist Frederick Benting and his assistant Charles Best; two years later, both researchers were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for this discovery, and, it must be said, for good reason.

The beginning of industrial production of insulin-containing drugs saved the lives of many, many thousands of people. But production is production, and research had to go further; this process cannot be stopped. Alas, the knowledge obtained as a result does not even pretend to be complete.

The mechanism of the hypoglycemic action of insulin has not yet been fully studied. It is believed that it (insulin) interacts with specific receptors on the surface of cells. The resulting “insulin + receptor” complex penetrates into the cell, where insulin is released and exerts its effect. Insulin activates the transport of glucose across cell membranes and its utilization by muscle and fat tissues.

Under the influence of insulin, glycogen synthesis increases, insulin inhibits the conversion of amino acids into glucose (this is why it is so useful to inject insulin immediately after training - the protein consumed after this is not used for energy needs, as is usually the case, but for the regeneration of muscle tissue, but the one who I’m used to skipping the theoretical part, so I’ll never know about it).

Among other things, insulin promotes the delivery of more amino acids into the cell, and significantly more. And this, as you yourself understand, cannot but have a positive effect on the growth (hypertrophy) of muscle fibers.

But regarding the ability of insulin to stimulate protein synthesis, not everything is clear; So far, this hormone has shown such an ability, and, it must be said, quite strongly expressed, only in isolated experiments in which it was possible to achieve a local concentration of insulin more than a thousand (!) times higher than the norm.

At this concentration, insulin began to successfully perform the functions of an insulin-like growth factor, which is not typical for it under natural conditions. I want to immediately warn those who want to see for themselves the effectiveness of insulin as an anabolic steroid: independently repeating such an experiment “at home” may be the last act in the earthly life of the experimenter.

Attention!

Summarizing the above, it can be argued that insulin is able to prevent the destruction of muscle fibers, which aims to replenish the body’s energy reserves, and also enhance the delivery of amino acids into the cell - this is its main attractiveness.

The negative qualities of insulin include its ability to enhance the deposition of triglycerides in adipose tissue, which leads to an increase in subcutaneous fat. However, it is possible to fight the latter phenomenon, but more on that below.

This "sweet" word is "diabetes"

Normally, the blood glucose level fluctuates between 70-110 mg/dl, falling below 70 mg/dl is considered a hypoglycemic state, exceeding the upper limit is considered normal within 2-3 hours after eating - after this period of time, the glucose level in blood levels should return to normal.

If the blood glucose level after a meal exceeds 180 mg/dl, then this condition is considered hyperglycemic. Well, if the above-mentioned level in one person after consuming an aqueous solution of sugar exceeded the mark of 200 mg/dl, and not just once, but during two tests, then this condition qualifies as diabetes.

There are two types of diabetes - insulin-dependent and. Insulin-dependent diabetes () accounts for about 30% of all cases of diabetes mellitus (according to the US Department of Health, there are no more than 10%, but this is data only for the United States, although it is unlikely that the inhabitants of this country are so strikingly different from other earthlings).

It occurs as a result of disturbances in the human immune system: the formation of antibodies to antigens of the islets of Langerhans occurs, which leads to a decrease in the number of active b-cells and, accordingly, to a drop in the level of insulin production.

Insulin-dependent diabetes usually occurs in childhood or adolescence (the average age of diagnosis is 14 years), or in adults (extremely rarely) under the influence of various toxins, trauma, complete removal of the pancreas, or as a disease accompanying acromegaly.

The nature of the occurrence of insulin-dependent diabetes has not been well studied; it is believed that a person must be genetically predisposed to contract this serious illness. Moving on to type 2 diabetes (non-insulin-dependent), it should be said that the concentration of receptors on the cell surface (and these include insulin receptors) depends, among other things, on the level of hormones in the blood.

If this level increases, then the number of receptors for the corresponding hormone decreases, i.e. in fact, there is a decrease in the sensitivity of the cell to the hormone, which is in excess in the blood. And vice versa. Type 2 diabetes occurs precisely in adults and only in them - in middle age (30-40 years) and even later.

As a rule, these are people who are overweight, although there are exceptions. Again, as a rule, the level of endogenous insulin production in such people is within the normal range or even exceeds it. What's the matter then? And the problem turns out to be downregulation of insulin receptors on the cell surface.

Constant excess consumption of fats and carbohydrates leads to a constant increased level of insulin in the blood, which, in turn, leads to a decrease, including an irreversible one, in the number of the above-mentioned receptors. Not all obese people, however, develop non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

Approximately half of all patients receive it “by inheritance,” i.e. has a predisposition to the disease. Why are we suddenly talking about diabetes? Here's why. It is believed that the use of insulin by a healthy person can lead to the development of just this disease.

As for insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1), everything seems clear here - excessive injection of insulin into a healthy body does not threaten to result in this disease. Another thing is non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

Additional administration of insulin over a long period of time can, like excess consumption of carbohydrates and fats, lead to an irreversible decrease in the number of insulin receptors on the cell surface, and therefore to a sustainable decrease in the ability of cells to utilize glucose, i.e. to diabetes type 2. In theory, everything seems to be so.

In the real world, there is unlikely to be at least one person (I mean a comprehensively healthy person, including mentally) who would inject himself with insulin for years without a break for the sake of athletic achievements. And a period of less than two to three years is unlikely to lead to any shifts towards the disease.

There is, however, a risk group, which includes people with a hereditary tendency to develop diabetes. These people should not experiment with insulin at all. And one more small question, it concerns growth hormone and its effect on the production of endogenous insulin.

Attention!

A hypoglycemic state stimulates an increase in the secretion of somatotropic hormone, which, like adrenaline and norepinephrine, has the ability to inhibit insulin production. There is no evidence, however, that frequent use of high doses of growth hormone can lead to a decrease in the number of active b-cells and, therefore, to the development of type 1 diabetes.

If this is the case, then the likelihood of such an outcome is negligible. And once again we summarize the above: the use of insulin by healthy people who do not have a hereditary predisposition to diabetes does not lead to the development of this disease in them. Practice of injections Well, finally, we are done with the theoretical part and understand that insulin can help a bodybuilder, both an ordinary “jock” and a professional, on his difficult path.

The time has come to put the acquired knowledge into practice. I’ll say right away: for a beginner, self-injecting insulin is not a safe activity. It’s not like you’re injecting steroids: you can get as much testosterone as you can fit into a syringe, and still there’s no threat to life. Insulin is another matter; an error in its dosage can easily send you to the best of all worlds.

One consolation is that death will be fairly painless. Okay, the parrot is enough. If you have a sufficient amount of what is called common sense, then you have nothing particularly to fear. You just need to remember a few simple rules and follow them carefully.

It is usually recommended to start taking insulin with 4 IU (international units, these are 4 divisions on the units scale on a special insulin syringe; the use of other syringes is strictly prohibited!). However, I am not aware of cases of hypoglycemic coma resulting from the administration of twice the dose, so I still recommend starting with it.

The initial dose has been decided, then it needs to be increased daily, in small steps of 4 IU, until one of two things happens: you reach the 20 IU mark or, less likely, you feel very severe hypoglycemia after administering a lower dose.

The use of a higher dose is hardly justified, and 20 IU can still be considered a fairly safe level; for most people, problems begin with dosages of about 35-45 IU. For particularly cautious people, we can recommend two injections per day, spaced 7-8 hours apart, the volume of each not exceeding 12 IU.

I will take pity on people who prefer the evergreen tree of practice to dry theory and repeat once again: it makes the most sense to use insulin immediately after training or, even better, 15-20 minutes before its end. However, the latter can be recommended only to those who already have experience in the fight against hypoglycemia.

The use of insulin after exercise has two undeniable advantages: firstly, the hypoglycemia caused by the administration of exogenous insulin is superimposed on the natural decrease in blood sugar during exercise with iron, which makes the release of growth hormone into the blood stronger.

Secondly, insulin inhibits the conversion of amino acids into glucose, which means there is a guarantee that the protein contained in your post-workout drink will not be used solely to replenish the body’s depleted energy reserves. On days of weaning from the gym, injections can be done in the morning on an empty stomach, 20-30 minutes before the first meal.

This very meal can (and in the case of training, it is necessary, because there is no other choice) to be replaced with a cocktail, which ideally should contain the following substances: 50-60 grams of whey protein; carbohydrates at the rate of 7 grams per 1 IU of insulin administered; 5-7 grams of creatine; 5-7 grams of glutamine.

An hour and a half after the cocktail, a normal meal should follow. The best place to inject insulin is the fat fold on the abdomen. You don’t need to immediately suck in your stomach and pretend that you don’t have fat there at all - absolutely everyone has it.

Injecting insulin into the fold of the abdomen is completely painless and easily tolerated even by people who are accustomed to fainting from the mere sight of a syringe needle. In addition, it appears to be almost twice as effective as an injection into the arm. What is hypoglycemia and how to recognize it?

Oh, it’s impossible not to recognize hypoglycemia! It’s like a state of alcoholic intoxication: you may know about its existence only by hearsay, but having experienced it for the first time, you immediately unmistakably determine (if you are still able to determine something) - yes, this is it! By the way, these two conditions - alcohol intoxication and hypoglycemia - are somewhat similar.

The latter begins with a sharp increase in the feeling of hunger, dizziness appears, as in the case of mild intoxication, and trembling of the hands. The person suddenly begins to sweat and his heart begins to beat faster. All this is accompanied by changes in mood - a feeling of euphoria arises, or vice versa - irritability increases; both are subsequently replaced by drowsiness.

Mild hypoglycemia is not dangerous, but severe hypoglycemia can lead to loss of orientation; a person is not able to understand what is happening and take the necessary measures in time. In order to stop hypoglycemia abruptly, drink some sugar-containing drink, you can simply dissolve sugar in water, eat something sweet - candy, pastries, cake, and finally, just eat anything until the alarming symptoms disappear.

Attention!

In severe cases, you need to administer intravenous glucose or adrenaline, but here you cannot do without outside help. Which drug to choose Well, everything is extremely simple here, the choice is not so rich. The best drugs available on our market are called “Humulin” and are produced by Eli Lilly (USA) or its French subsidiary, and you should choose them.

For use in bodybuilding, fast or short-acting insulins are most suitable, although you can also use combinations of Humalog Mix 75/25 or Humulin 50/50 (combinations are sold ready-to-use, although they are not so common in our country).

Rapid and short-acting insulins can be administered twice a day, the combination is used only once a day, preferably in the first half of the day. Medium-acting insulins with index “L” are suitable only for patients with diabetes.

How to deal with fat deposition In order to deal with this most unpleasant phenomenon, there are several ways. The first of them, and the safest, is called Metformin. Metformin is an oral drug used as a mild antidiabetic agent.

Its original purpose is to prevent the liver from producing excess glucose. Subsequently, this drug was also observed to have an activity such as increasing the utilization of glucose by fat cells and skeletal muscle cells.

In medical practice, metformin, among other things, is prescribed to patients in order to avoid excessive accumulation of subcutaneous fat. The negative properties of metformin include its tendency to cause diarrhea in approximately a quarter of those taking this drug.

I hope you don’t need to explain what diarrhea is. Several drugs containing metformin as an active ingredient are sold on our market. I personally liked “” produced by Berlin-Chemie AG most of all. There are two types of this drug, differing in the content of metformin in one tablet - “Siofor-850” and “Siofor-500”.

The usual daily dose of the drug is 1500-1700 mg, divided into two doses. In case of diarrhea, the dose can be reduced to one gram. Insulin + triiodothyronine This is a more “advanced” way of combating excess fat deposits. You already know what insulin is, and triiodothyronine is a thyroid hormone, i.e. thyroid hormone; For brevity, we will further call it T3.

It must be said right away that manipulating the level of thyroid hormones can lead to truly irreparable consequences, so these drugs should only be taken under medical supervision. If you are unable to do weekly blood tests, it is best not to start taking T3.

However, this only applies to high dosages; dosages of about 25 mcg can still be considered safe, although not sufficiently effective. T3 is able to accelerate metabolism, thus its action to some extent compensates for the ability of insulin to accumulate fat - triiodothyronine releases this fat “into the energy furnace” of the body.

And yet, you should think twice before using this hormone - the disruption of the thyroid gland that it can provoke may be irreversible. For those who decide to try, we provide an approximate scheme for using T3 together with insulin.

I hope you have already learned the regimen for using insulin, so I will not give it here, I will only note that insulin is used daily throughout the entire cycle. Weeks 1 and 4: 25 mcg T3 according to the scheme: 2 days on / 1 day off Weeks 2 and 3: 50 mcg T3 according to the scheme: 2 days on / 1 day off Insulin + DNP Let's agree right away: I didn’t write this, but you haven't read it.

Therefore, please take note of all of the following simply as a set of interesting and instructive facts, and not as a guide to action. In order not to dwell on DNP for too long, I will say that this drug is as far from pharmacology as an oil tycoon is from the problems of ordinary citizens.

The main field of his activity (DNP, not the tycoon, of course) is the fight against all kinds of insect pests; To put it simply, DNP is poison. The use of 2,4-dinitrophenol is accompanied by so many side effects that a separate article would be required to describe them. But, nevertheless, a more effective fat burner simply does not exist today.

The regimen for using insulin together with DNP may look like this: Day 1-8: DNP at the rate of 4-5 mg per 1 kg of body weight Insulin 15-20 IU Day 9-16: Insulin 15-20 IU Day 17-24: DNP from calculation 4-5 mg per 1 kg of body weight Insulin 15-20 IU.

Please note that DNP should not be taken for more than 8 days in a row. In addition, taking this drug is almost impossible during hot weather, unless you are lucky enough to spend all your time in air-conditioned rooms.

Simple nutrition rules

But no matter how you fight fat deposition with “chemical” methods, all efforts will turn to dust if you are incontinent in your diet. Therefore, during insulin “therapy”, forget about the existence of animal fats, and vegetable fats too.

Attention!

Skip the egg yolks if you haven't already, and drink only skim milk. Try not to think about sweets either; It’s hard, I understand, but what can you do! Protein should be your main source of calories; you should consume about 5-6 grams per kilogram of lean (fat-free) weight per day.

In addition to protein, you need to take amino acids, with particular attention to alanine, glutamine, arginine and taurine. Insulin has antidepressant properties; it has a calming and stabilizing effect on the nervous system.

This property of insulin is especially valuable for bodybuilders who are prone to depression after the end of a cycle due to a sharp drop in testosterone levels in the blood. By the way, the author of the article fully experienced this effect of insulin himself.

Hypoglycemic coma (naturally, under strict medical supervision) is sometimes used in the treatment of certain mental illnesses. What else may be of interest to bodybuilders is the fact that insulin enhances the effect of anabolic steroids by increasing the permeability of the cell membrane.

We must not forget, however, that high doses of aromatizing steroids can promote female-type fat deposition (i.e. in the most inappropriate places for this - on the hips and waist) on their own, and insulin will only enhance this process. Therefore, if possible, you should limit yourself to non-aromatizing steroids, since their choice is quite large.

Insulin is a peptide hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreas. Its function is to reduce blood glucose levels.

This substance has a fairly pronounced anabolic effect, which is why it is used in bodybuilding. But in addition to this effect, insulin also has an anti-catabolic effect, because it activates glycolytic enzymes, stimulates the formation of glycogen from glucose in the muscles and liver, and also enhances the production of proteins and fats. In addition, this hormone can reduce the activity of enzymes that stimulate the breakdown of fats and glycogen. This is its anti-catabolic effect.

Date: 03/01/2016

It must be remembered that insulin in sports is not entirely suitable for novice athletes, because it is a very powerful and serious drug. If used incorrectly, it can cause harm to the body and even lead to death.

The main advantage of insulin is that it is a transport hormone, meaning it delivers nutrients to cells. We are primarily talking about glucose (carbohydrates), but also amino acids (proteins) and triglycerides (fats) depend on the work of this substance. To understand the essence of the activity of insulin, you need to decide what the three above-mentioned groups of compounds are needed for.

The transfer of carbohydrates by insulin leads to an increase in energy processes, the transport of proteins leads to muscle growth, and the transport of fats leads to fat growth. Based on this, it becomes clear that insulin is an assistant for both muscle gain and fat gain. Which effect will predominate depends on two factors:

• diet - the more protein the diet contains and the less carbohydrates, the better;
• genetics - it determines body type. The more fat a person has, the more harmful insulin will be for him.

Insulin in bodybuilding is capable of transporting everything, but the emphasis can be placed differently: either the path of anabolism, that is, muscle growth, or an increase in fat mass will predominate. Moreover, it is impossible to achieve one goal by completely abandoning another path. In any case, both fat gain and muscle mass growth will occur.

If a person is by nature an ectomorph (has thin bones and little fat), then insulin will help him more than harm him, because his insulin resistance is reduced. If a person is an endomorph (has a belly, gains fat easily, has thick bones), then he has high insulin resistance, which means there is no point in using it.

Effects of insulin

This hormone has a versatile effect, but the main directions are anabolic and anti-catabolic effects, as well as metabolic function.

Anabolic effect

Under the influence of insulin, muscle cells begin to intensively absorb amino acids, especially leucine and valine. DNA replication and protein biosynthesis are also enhanced, the penetration of magnesium, potassium and phosphate ions into cells is activated, the formation of fatty acids and their further esterification into adipose tissue and the liver are accelerated. Insulin also catalyzes the conversion of glucose into triglycerides. If this hormone is not enough, then on the contrary, fat mobilization begins.

Anti-catabolic effect

Insulin reduces the breakdown of proteins by suppressing their hydrolysis, and also reduces the transport of fatty acids into the bloodstream (weakens lipolysis).

Metabolic effect

Insulin promotes the activation of the main enzymes of glycolysis, enhances the uptake of glucose by muscle cells, accelerates the formation of glycogen and other compounds, and also reduces the formation of glucose in the liver (gluconeogenesis).

The use of insulin in bodybuilding

Insulin in bodybuilding can be ultra-short, short-acting and long-acting. The first two types are used in bodybuilding.

Short-acting insulin. The action of this type of hormone begins thirty minutes after subcutaneous administration. The injection should be given half an hour before meals. The maximum effect begins two hours after injection and disappears completely after five to six hours.

Ultra-short insulin begins to act almost instantly, within five to ten minutes, the peak of action also occurs after two hours, and the hormone is completely eliminated from the human body after three to four hours. This type of drug can be taken immediately before meals (5-10 minutes before) or taken immediately after meals.

Pros and cons of insulin

The advantages are as follows:

• affordable course cost;
• guaranteed high quality (insulin, unlike anabolic steroids, is practically not counterfeited);
• ease of acquisition, you can easily buy it at a pharmacy;
• has a pronounced anabolic effect;
• low likelihood of developing side effects;
• there are no consequences from use;
• weakly expressed rollback;
• possible joint use with steroids and other compounds;
• does not have an androgenic effect on the body;
• there is no toxic effect on the kidneys and liver, and there are no problems with male sexual function.

Insulin deficiencies can be displayed in three points:

• may cause hypoglycemia;
• During the course, fat mass increases significantly;
• complex injection scheme.

Side effect

A decrease in blood sugar, which is manifested by sweating, arms and legs begin to shake, consciousness becomes foggy, difficulties arise with a person’s orientation in space and coordination of movements, and a strong feeling of hunger appears. When hypoglycemia develops, it is very important to drink glucose in any form or eat something sweet as soon as possible in order to prevent further consequences, and bring it to the desired level of glucose in the blood; the norm in men should be constantly maintained.

Itching may occur in the injection area.

An allergic reaction is extremely rare, but can still occur in some people.

Reduced insulin production by the own pancreas. This may occur in those athletes who use this drug for a very long time and take large doses. Long-acting insulins (for example, protafan) can also have this effect.

Insulin course

The duration of use of this drug is from one to two months, after which it is necessary to take a break. Compliance with this rule is vital, as it allows you to restore your own insulin secretion. During the course, muscle mass gain ranges from 5 to 10 kg.

Large doses are not recommended. In order not to cause harm to health, it is important to start using small dosages and inject two units subcutaneously. Gradually, the dose can be increased to 15 - 20 units; administering more is not recommended.

It is very important to follow the rule of small doses; you cannot immediately inject, for example, 5 or 10 units, and at the next workout immediately increase the amount of insulin to 20 units. It is recommended to use insulin syringes for this. Doing this is under no circumstances permissible, because it is dangerous to health.

Another principle that requires strict adherence: no matter what anyone says, you cannot go beyond the dosage of 20 units. Some argue that nothing bad will happen even if you inject 50 units of the drug, but in fact, in this case, the consequences for the body can be very serious.

Injections are best done every other day, although there are options for daily injections, and some people even use insulin twice a day, which is also recommended. But in this case, the course should be reduced to 30 days. When using the drug once every two days, the duration of use can be 2 months.

It is best to inject insulin after training, and then eat a large meal. This particular use of the hormone is justified by the fact that insulin has an anti-catabolic effect, which means it is able to block the catabolic processes that occur during physical activity during training.

There are also some other benefits of using insulin after sports: when training with weights, there is a physiologically determined decrease in the concentration of glucose in the blood (due to increased consumption of energy resources). External administration of insulin also leads to hypoglycemia.

These two effects overlap each other and lead to an active release of growth hormone into the bloodstream. It is not advisable to inject insulin at other times of the day, but if training takes place every other day, then it makes sense to give the injection in the morning before meals on those days when there are no classes. In this case, it is recommended to use short-acting drugs (for example, actrapid) and eat food half an hour after the injection. On training days, insulin is administered only after completion of training.

In this article we will talk about the most powerful and dangerous anabolic drug - insulin. The mechanism of the hormone, its effect on the body, course of administration, side effects and important points about using insulin as a dope.

Insulin is a protein hormone produced by the pancreas in response to increases in blood glucose levels. The hormone is released into the bloodstream by specialized cells called beta cells. Each product has a different effect on increasing sugar levels, and, therefore, entails different levels of insulin release in the body. This hormone affects the entire body. The main task of insulin is to reduce blood glucose levels.

Effects of insulin and how does it work?

Metabolic effect

Another important task is to control the metabolic process of carbohydrates and fats taken from food. In addition, insulin has several other metabolic effects, such as stopping the breakdown of protein and fat. Insulin works in tandem with glucagon, another hormone produced by the pancreas. While the role of insulin is to lower blood sugar levels if needed, the role of glucagon is to raise blood sugar levels if they fall too low. This system helps blood glucose levels stay within prescribed limits, allowing the body to function properly.

Anabolic effect

Insulin promotes superphysiological accumulation of water and nutrients in cells, which in itself greatly increases the anabolic effect. This process stretches the cell membranes, like air in a balloon. This process triggers another strong growth mechanism by increasing the production of IGF-1 and MGF (insulin-like growth factor and mechanical growth factor). This mechanism, due to the synergistic effect, provides a powerful anabolic effect. Insulin also increases the absorption of amino acids.

Anti-catabolic effect

An important effect for maintaining muscle mass is the reduction of protein degradation, that is, their decomposition. In addition, insulin reduces the flow of fatty acids into the blood, namely, it prevents the breakdown of fats.

Advantages

Of course, the main advantage of insulin over other steroids is its low cost, so athletes resort to insulin as the most affordable anabolic steroid. It can also be purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription, unlike synthetic hormonal drugs. It is important that insulin is not counterfeited. It does not cause impotence, unlike other hormones.

Flaws

A common side effect is hypoglycemia, a decrease in glucose levels.

High levels of the hormone lead to abnormally low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia).

Symptoms include:

• dizziness;
• confusion;
• to whom, in severe cases;
• cardiopalmus;
• sweating;
• hunger;
• anxiety;
• tremor and pale complexion.

Side effects

Low insulin levels cause the amount of glucose in the blood to be too high, which leads to dehydration, and the worst thing is that the cells cannot take glucose for energy. Other sources (such as fat and muscle) are needed to provide energy. This makes the body tired and can lead to severe weight loss. Ultimately, this can lead to coma and death.

Long-term and illiterate use of insulin can develop diabetes mellitus.

Another huge disadvantage of insulin is the increase in the number of fat cells. Adipose tissue is the main site for the activity of the aromatase enzyme, which itself causes the problem of fat accumulation.

Many AAS (anabolic/androgenic steroids) are susceptible to the effects of the aromatase enzyme converting them into estrogens, like endogenously produced (made within the body) androgens such as testosterone. Obviously, the greater the volume and activity of this enzyme that exists in the body, the greater the likelihood and degree of aromatization. Estrogen is directly anabolic to a minor extent for muscle tissue, but unfortunately it is highly anabolic for fat tissue. Estrogen is a hormone that causes female-pattern fat deposits. Thus, the greater degree of accumulation of adipose tissue from insulin administration leads to the effect of preserving adipose tissue.

Insulin in bodybuilding

Many beginners or experienced athletes are thinking about taking insulin. Indeed, this is one of the powerful anabolic steroids with a low percentage of kickback after use. Insulin is the most studied hormone, and knowing about all its “terrible” side effects, it is at least stupid to use it. Experienced and adequate coaches and their athletes moved away from the insulin regimen a long time ago, since pharmacology has stepped far forward. And yet, there are those who risk their lives for the sake of large volumes of muscle filled with fat.

What insulin is used in bodybuilding

Short acting insulin:

• action in 30 minutes;
• must be administered 30-40 minutes before meals;
• peak after 2 hours;
• The effect disappears after 5-6 hours.

Ultra-short-acting insulin:

• the action begins within 15 minutes after administration;
• administration is necessary 10 minutes before meals;
• peak occurs in the second hour;
• The effect disappears after 3-4 hours.

Course for 1-2 months

Attention! Do not exceed the dosage!

It is recommended to administer the drug every other day. Subcutaneously inject 2 units of insulin before meals, depending on the type of action, and watch the reaction. In the future, if the anabolic effect is not noticeable over a long period, increase the dosage; the dose should not exceed 20 units.

• do not administer the drug at night;
• do not exceed the dosage;
• do not administer the drug before exercise;
• be sure to eat high-calorie foods rich in carbohydrates after administering insulin;
• the drug is injected into the skin with an insulin syringe, not intramuscularly.

How to inject insulin correctly

Draw the required amount of insulin for injection into a sterile syringe; you can pre-treat the injection site with alcohol (optional). Then, grasping the subcutaneous fold in the abdominal area, insert the needle at an angle of 45 degrees under the skin and inject the drug. Change injection sites.

Nutrition after injections

The diet should be rich in carbohydrates. Preferably complex carbohydrates with a low glycemic index; for this, see the GI tables of foods. For 1 unit of insulin, you need to consume an additional 10 g of pure carbohydrate. To calculate your daily carbohydrate needs for weight gain, multiply your own weight by 4.

Is it possible to combine insulin with anabolic steroids?

The administration of insulin is not prohibited when taking other anabolic steroids. On the contrary, the anabolic effect will be aimed at improving results when combining drugs. It is possible to take additional insulin for 2-3 weeks after the course to reduce the catabolic effect.