Insulin Isophanes

anna29 · Feb 2, 2012

Hi all .
Sadly I have developed allergic reactions to levemir insulin, severe large red welts, headaches,abdomen soreness, monstrous bruises, extreme hair loss.
Have been getting stressed with this too ! So NOT good for me.
Spoken to my DSN this morning and she will be seeing me tomorrow to get this changed onto another insulin.
She suggested an insulin isophane long acting/split dosed could be an option .
I am totally LOST here now, havent a clue about these!
Anyone got any pointers and tips with isophane insulins.
There is both animal and human in these ?
How do I CHOOOOSE ?
Have till tomorrow to find out all I can !
Anna.x

Ann19 · Feb 2, 2012

Hi Anna, I hope your DSN sorts your medication out tomorrow, your reaction to the ones your now on sounds horrendous. Sorry I can't help you, but thinking of you, hopefully someone who can help will come along soon. (((Hugs))))

Ann x

anna29 · Feb 2, 2012

Hi.
Thanks ann for your thoughts and [[[hugs]]] too.
Have been trowling the pages looking up info on various insulins etc...
Jotted notes down on snippets I have found !
Errr am 'still' lost and baffled even more as result now :roll:
Getting a bit stressed n panicky as have only till tomorrow morn to have some strong sense of
right direction to go in !
It matters - as will be using this as my future insulin therapy med...
Where are the insulin users today - tonight ???
You are 'needed' here!!!
Anna.x

anna29 · Feb 3, 2012

Hi .
No help???
Lucky I was up at 4.30am swatting up on animal insulins then !!!
Have decided to ask for the hypurin porcine isophane insulin , it is an intermediate insulin lasts 12hrs so I can use it twice daily , then it will give me 24hours of basal background insulin cover.
There dose'nt seem to be many folk on the animal insulins ?
I do NOT eat enough food so am not going on a basal - bolus regime .
Have bowel disease n digestive issues so can only tollerate small portions of food at a time.
Any animal insulin users out there ?
Please chip in ....
Anna.

phoenix · Feb 3, 2012

why not pm carbsrok?

iHs · Feb 3, 2012

and Janabelle

My experience of using animal insulin goes back to the mid 60's. I was fairly ok using bovine/porcine mix - Lente but did switch to porcine mix insulin for a short time and found it a bit too swift in bringing bg levels down and found myself dealing with hypos. But of course bg meters weren't available then so everyone had to rely on their awareness more and use Clinitest tablets or use Clinistix to determine their sugar levels.

Bovine insulin works slightly slower than porcine in my opinion. Both insulins should give better hypo awareness though as the symptoms are fairly definate whereas human synthetic plus the analogue insulins still give hypo awareness but in a subtle way.

alaska · Feb 3, 2012

Hi Anna

Isophane insulin is what's called an 'intermediate insulin' because it lasts longer than 'short acting' insulins but not always quite as long as 'long acting' insulins like levemir.

Isophane insulins typically last around 14 to 18 hours so you may be asked to take 2 injections a day.

A benefit of animal insulins is that it may be easier to notice low blood sugar better than the 'human' insulins.

CarbsRok · Feb 3, 2012

anna29 said:
Hi .
No help???
Lucky I was up at 4.30am swatting up on animal insulins then !!!
Have decided to ask for the hypurin porcine isophane insulin , it is an intermediate insulin lasts 12hrs so I can use it twice daily , then it will give me 24hours of basal background insulin cover.
There dose'nt seem to be many folk on the animal insulins ?
I do NOT eat enough food so am not going on a basal - bolus regime .
Have bowel disease n digestive issues so can only tollerate small portions of food at a time.
Any animal insulin users out there ?
Please chip in ....
Anna.

If you have been swatting up! then to the bottom of the class you go :lol:
Isophane lasts from 18 - 24 hours max
http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/documen ... entId=9766
It also has peeks and troughs so you will pos have to snack. But this depends on your other mends.
I used it up until four years ago and used it once a day as it covered me for the 24 hours.
I now use animal insulin in my pump (neutral) For some people this can last up to 8 hours average is about 6 though. Last's me for 5 hours.
If you have to many ups and downs with Isophane try the neutral in small doses and see if you can cover yourself for the 24 hours with that. I have done so successfully when my pump has gone it's up.

Bovine insulin works slightly slower than porcine in my opinion.

Manufactures say not. so obviously everyone is dif. I'm highly allergic to porcine insulin so can't say if this is the case.

anna29 · Feb 3, 2012

Hi ...
Many thanks for your help and replies...
Today went well , worth the swatting up!
My DSN actually suprised me , let me get started on hypurin porcine isophane , wrote me scripts out for the insulin cartridges, new auto pens and needles am comfortable with also.
She did mention it needs to be used twice daily as its only 12 hour cover so using this twice a day will cover me the 24 hrs... Does it work quite swiftly??
Also let me know it is good for hypo awareness and least likely to contain as many chemicals than the human genetically modified insulins. [it will still have some to act as preservatives in the longtivity and safe usage of it as an insulin]
Was advised me to snack just before retiring to bed [something lite carby like couple of crackers!] to help it to work safetly as I sleep.
Am just so relieved to have the insulin of my OWN choice to try !!!!
Hope to goodness this works and agrees with me ....
Just before I left home I actually PM'd janabelle , do need to keep in touch and contact with other animal insulin users though.
Have TONS to learn with this new journey on hypurin porcine isophane.
Am starting on 25units twice daily , as was using 60-70 units levemir .
Would love to experience this as a success and see myself living side effect free for years!!!
If I take well to it - am letting IDDT send all my levemir supplies to the children in poorer areas n countries.
They need it greater than just being disposed of via the chemists!!!!
Why arnt there a lot of others on these animal insulins ?
This struck me as I spent yesterday hunting for answers .
I LOVE this forum and all its members who all help n support each other .
Sorry but am bit emotional tonight as its been bit rough for me lately.
Anna.x

CarbsRok · Feb 3, 2012

anna29 said:
Hi ...
Many thanks for your help and replies...
Today went well , worth the swatting up!
My DSN actually suprised me , let me get started on hypurin porcine isophane , wrote me scripts out for the insulin cartridges, new auto pens and needles am comfortable with also.
She did mention it needs to be used twice daily as its only 12 hour cover so using this twice a day will cover me the 24 hrs... Does it work quite swiftly??
Isphane works from 18 to 24 hours read the insert and the link I gave you.
It takes a couple of hours to kick in. It's a basal though not a bolus. So wont cover food unless it peeks when u eat.
Also let me know it is good for hypo awareness and least likely to contain as many chemicals than the human genetically modified insulins. [it will still have some to act as preservatives in the longtivity and safe usage of it as an insulin]
I have used animal insulin for 47 years and am still hypo aware.

Was advised me to snack just before retiring to bed [something lite carby like couple of crackers!] to help it to work safetly as I sleep.
Am just so relieved to have the insulin of my OWN choice to try !!!!
Hope to goodness this works and agrees with me ....
Just before I left home I actually PM'd janabelle , do need to keep in touch and contact with other animal insulin users though.
Have TONS to learn with this new journey on hypurin porcine isophane.
Am starting on 25units twice daily , as was using 60-70 units levemir .
You could end up in big trouble with a straight split as it can have a kick like a mule at times. People who use it twice a day use very little at night due to hypo problems.
Would love to experience this as a success and see myself living side effect free for years!!!
If I take well to it - am letting IDDT send all my levemir supplies to the children in poorer areas n countries.
They need it greater than just being disposed of via the chemists!!!!
Why arnt there a lot of others on these animal insulins ?
There are over 100,000 on animal insulin's in the uk. The company that makes it has expanded it's business. The advertising done by the analogue and synthetic insulin companies have tried their best to influence consultants and hcp's in the choice of their insulin's. Some staff even tell patients it's not made anymore or it's being discontinued.
This struck me as I spent yesterday hunting for answers .
I LOVE this forum and all its members who all help n support each other .
Sorry but am bit emotional tonight as its been bit rough for me lately.
Anna.x

It will take a while to sort things out so don't expect an overnight fix and make sure u have some fast carbs available.

anna29 · Feb 3, 2012

Hi,
Many thanks for the link you gave me CarbsRok.
I have added it to my favourites file to keep n refer to .
It will help me along the way !
Starting my new regime tomorrow .
Anna.x

Insulin Isophanes

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