Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

Institute of Medicine
A nonprofit organization
established in 1970 as a component of the US
National Academy of Sciences that works outside the
framework of government to provide evidence-
based research and recommendations for public
health and science policy. Abbreviated IOM. The
IOM is also an honorific membership organization.
insufficiency, pancreatic
See 
pancreatic
insufficiency.
insulin
A hormone that is made by the beta cells
in the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas and that
controls the amount of sugar (glucose) in the
blood. Insulin helps the body use glucose for
energy. Cells cannot utilize glucose without insulin.
If the beta cells that make insulin degenerate, pre-
venting the body from making enough insulin on its
own, type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus
results. A person with this type of diabetes must
inject insulin from other sources, such as synthetic
insulin. See also 
diabetes mellitus; diabetic shock.
insulin pump
A mechanical device used in the
treatment of diabetes mellitus that delivers insulin
24 hours per day via a catheter placed under the
skin. Insulin pumps deliver basal insulin doses, and
user controls allow for the administration of bolus
doses of insulin for carbohydrate-containing meals
as well as corrective or supplemental doses when
needed. See also 
insulin.
insulin reaction
See 
diabetic shock.
insulin shock
See 
diabetic shock.
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
See 
dia-
betes, type 1.
intelligence, nonverbal
The innate or learned
ability to understand and carry out motor tasks,
such as solving physical puzzles. Also known as per-
formance IQ.