insulin

 
Pronunciation: /ˈɪnsjʊlɪn/

noun

[mass noun] Biochemistry
  • a hormone produced in the pancreas by the islets of Langerhans, which regulates the amount of glucose in the blood. The lack of insulin causes a form of diabetes.
  • an animal-derived or synthetic form of insulin used to treat diabetes.

Origin:

early 20th century: from Latin insula 'island' + -in1