Insulin Steroid?

[Newlydiagnosed199]

Hi im 15 and heard about how insulin is a steroid so i did some research and found different opinions on it. Recently ive been going to the gym to get stronger and was worried that i might accidentaly be using steroids i dont have that great a understanding on steroids but if someone could tell explain to me how i would go about not using it as a steroid that would be great ☺
thanks

 

[catapillar]

Insulin is a steroid. The same as any insulin anyone else produces naturally in their body is a steroid. But you aren't using insulin as a steroid, you are using it exactly the same as everyone else uses their naturally produced insulin to metabolise their food, just keep using your insulin as normal to control blood sugar. Insulin is not a banned substance, you aren't doing anything wrong or nefarious. There are plenty of type 1 Olympians who use their insulin as normal like every other type 1.

 

[pleinster]

There are different kinds of steroids with different potential impact on the body's systems. I got my Type 2 diabetes from steroids. As for using any substance which might be classed as a steroid which is illegal or at least banned in certain sports (and in bodybuilding), check sites on competitions and on banned substances. It doesn't matter why you use a banned substance...only that it is banned. If that is what you are asking. If you are simply looking to avoid the kinds of steroids that are "privately" sold in gyms who do not pay enough attention to what goes on on their premises (and are not looking to compete but simply to build yourself up), don't by anything from anyone who tries to sell you something you haven't asked for. There are certainly body builders on this site who take insulin..hopefully one will be along to clarify.

 

[Newlydiagnosed199]

Thanks for the clarity

 

[JohnEGreen]

There is a difference between both nsulin as a steroid or the steroids I take as medication that is corticosteroids and what I think you may be concerned about that is Anabolic Steroids which are definitely banned in most sports.

If you are using a substance such as insulin as medication on prescription then I think you are ok there are several athletes who are T1 and T2 who have had to use insulin to control their diabetes and so far I have not heard of them being banned from their sports.

 

[Westley]

Technically I believe insulin is a peptide, not a steroid, so in a different class of hormones.
I guess though that your question is more about whether it counts as a PED (performance enhancing drug), a category which includes many substances besides steroids.

For most drug tested sports insulin would indeed count as a PED, but as a type 1 diabetic you would get a therapeutic use exemption, meaning you are still allowed to compete while using it even though it is banned for others.

 

[JohnEGreen]

Like Sir Steve Redgrave who I believe was using therapeutic insulin while competing.

 

[Dark Horse]

A steroid is an organic compound in which carbon atoms are arranged into a specific ring formation. Examples include cholesterol and a number of hormones such as oestradiol and testosterone. Some steroids are abused because they are anabolic i.e. they increase protein synthesis and muscle growth.

Although insulin is a hormone and has anabolic properties, it is not a steroid, it is a peptide (small protein). Everybody needs insulin for their body to function properly. People with type 1 are not able to produce their own insulin so have to replace it by injecting it.