Re: beyondhom Re: rubric help & thoughts needed

Hi Irene

Actually, the lack of warning of a hypoglycaemic event with 'human' insulin was a real problem here several years ago - I had several friends (diabetics for years) who complained bitterly about the changeover (but were unable to do anything about it because the NHS would only provide 'human' insulin once it became the insulin of choice - it was presented as being much better than porcine and was obviously cheaper to produce. I think they liked to refer to it as 'human' even though grown in the lab so that people would see it as superior.)

And the girl who died in her sleep was found to have died of a severe hypoglycaemic episode - she went into a hypo and never woke up - so said the coroner's report. It was mooted that this was because of her switch to 'human' insulin, which took time to adjust to, as the reactions were different. So she went to bed never realising that a hypo was close. It was while my friend was studying at college, and it really shook everyone up.

Liz


From: Irene de Villiers 
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2012 1:00 AM
To: [email protected] 
Subject: Re: beyondhom Re: rubric help & thoughts needed


  

On Apr 10, 2012, at 1:45 AM, Liz Brynin wrote:

> 
> 
> I didn't realise that you used bovine insulin in the US

Hardy anyone uses animal insulin since the seventies, though porcine is available. 95% of insulin sold in teh world is manufactured. Before the 80s, animal insulin that was really similar to human was used, as that was all there was - but there were allergic reactions.
The it was discovered how to put a rat insulin gene into a bacteria to get them to make rat insulin. And from there, human insulin genes were used in bacteria, with commercial use from 1982.

> Here in the UK we used to use porcine insulin - then switched to 'human', which I guess is what you mean by synthetic insulin, as it's grown in the lab to mimic human insulin.

Humulin is synthesized in a special laboratory strain of Escherichia coli bacteria that has been genetically altered to produce human insulin. One can have adverse reactions to the E coli remnants but it is rare. Yeast can also be used instead of bacteria.

Another manufactured "insulin" is the one used in Novolog. It's not really insulin - it's an insulin "analog" - a sustance the body thinks is insulin, and so it acts like insulin. It's made by recombinant DNA techniques. The advantage is it lacks the E coli or yeast proteins that can casue allergic reactions.

> This has caused problems with diabetics, because apparently with human insulin (unlike porcine) there is no prior warning of a hypo coming on,

There's no form of insulin that warns of an excess of insulin in the system causing a too low glucose level.
Some people will pick up the symptoms of a sudden drop in glucose, but if it is very fast, it can take one by surprise, especially during vigorous ativity, regardless of what kind of insulin is used. It's to do with glucose levels NOT isulin type.

> and people have got caught out a lot. In fact, I knew a friend of a friend who died in her sleep because of it.

I'm sorry. It would take a major overdose of insulin to kill. The usual hypoglycemia event is followed by recovery as the liver produces glucose through glycolysis - the same process that casues "dawn phenomenon" high glucose in the morning when a diabetic wakes up.

What's scary is how easy it is to accidentally inject a huge overdose. The actual individual dose of insulin needed is extremely small - like a drop - so to accidentally push the injection plunger (which can stick sometimes) too far, is not hard to do.
Usually you realize you did it at the time and can start eating candy and get help. But I can see how nasty accidents can happen. All kinds of other external factors can also affect insulin needed. 

My own approach to prevent accidents is to never inject more than 4 units at a time. That is too little to cause a severe hypoglycemia even with my very "brittle" responses and I can always add another 4 units later. 

Namaste,
Irene
-- 
Irene de Villiers, B.Sc AASCA MCSSA D.I.Hom/D.Vet.Hom.
P.O. Box 4703 Spokane WA 99220.
www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html (Veterinary Homeopath.)
"Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt one doing it."