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Female Focus
In January 1922 in Toronto, Canada, a 14-year-old boy, Leonard Thompson, was chosen as the first person with diabetes to receive insulin. The test was a success. Leonard, who before the insulin shots was near death, rapidly regained his strength and appetite. Insulin from the pancreases of cows and pigs (animal insulin) became widely available. With the supposed prospect of demand out stripping the availability of animal pancreases, human insulin was developed in the laboratory. In the 1990s analogue insulins, a sub group of human insulin, were patented and introduced. Analogue insulin is also laboratory grown but genetically altered to create a more rapid acting or more uniformly acting form of insulin. Rapid acting analogues: Humalog, NovoRapid Long acting analogues: Lantus, Levemir, Tresiba Premixed analogue insulins: Humalog Mix 25, Humalog Mix 50, NovoMix 30
Diabetes and Insulin
Analogue insulin costs considerably more than human insulin and questions have been raised as to whether their benefits outweigh such higher costs. In the UK, NICE guidelines say all new patients should first be offered human insulin, (eg NPH; Humulin I; Insulatard; Insuman Basal; etc), moving on to analogue insulins for optimal control. Analogues are the first generation of Biopharmacueticals. As the patents for the analogue insulins have come to an end the market has opened up to generic versions of these products, which are 15-20% cheaper. In the EU these generic versions are referred to as “biosimilars”. I believe Abasaglar is the first biosimilar insulin on the market. There are at least 20 different insulins on the market. The production methods make each insulin slightly different. With the recent introduction of at least three new insulins, I am concerned for those people using insulin who do not know the name of their insulin and, thinking all insulin is the same, would not question a brand change. I recommend those using insulin should know the names of their insulin, and consider carrying the name on an ID card. I also recommend once on a particular insulin they should not accept any other type of insulin except the one they were initially given. Any switches should be undertaken by clinicians with significant experience in insulin management and understood and agreed by the user. If you have any queries Diabetes UK is a reliable source of information or please email me, Dorothy at
diabetes.helpofdenia@gmail.com or come to our next meeting.
HELP of Denia - Diabetes Support Meeting.
The Teulada meeting will be held on Tuesday 21st March in the MABS room of the IMED building, Cami Calvari, Teulada. The La Xara meeting will be held on Friday 24th March in The HELP Activity Centre, Avenida Oeste 29 bajo, 03709 La Xara (next door to the Tabac). The times of both meetings will be 4.30pm to 6.30pm. The meetings will continue to address the educational needs of T2, starting with a 2 year program in March 2017. However I am also able to help those with T1 Diabetes hence this comment on Insulin, a lifeline to those with T1 and helpful to up to 50% of those with T2. Should you not be able to come to the meetings but would like a copy of my notes then please send a request by email
diabetes.helpofdenia@gmail.com to be added to my mailing data base. Dorothy Cook, Lead Volunteer HELP Diabetes Support.
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