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natural animal insulins

C

cocodog

Member
Messages
12
Hello

Its about 5 years since my teenage son started analgoue insulins, and his blood sugar levels have generally been high and unpredictable. Before that he was on a Humulin mix and although it was restrictive on when he ate, his levels were fairly stable. Being a teenager possibly probably will make it more difficult to given the growth hormones.
He looks very tired a lot of the time and gets pains in his legs and feet when he's been on them for a while, he also gets very cold feet. Our diet is a low carb one.
After reading on this forum and people sharing their experiences and reading Insulin Dependant Diabetes Trust website on different insulins, especially animal insulins it seems worth give a change a try and am keen to learn more about animal insulins.
Thanks
Lx
 
Hi, Am bumping up this post in the hope that someone will soon be along with help on this topic.
I too would like to know 'more' on animal insulins and hope any animal insulin users can post their knowledge and experiences of it here.
Anna. :)
 
Having cold hands and feet is often a sign of thyroid problems. Maybe worth a check. I think the hormones and growth of a teenager might mean you have similar blood sugar problems no matter what insulin you use but the only way to be sure would be to swap. I hope you get support from your medico's to try and see how things go.
 
Thanks Anna it would be very helpful to hear from people who are using animal insulins and how it works for them.

Does anyone use a daily mixed regime of porcine for short acting and bovine lente for long acting basal? Is it better to use either porcine or bovine. The reason I ask about bovine lente is because Dr Bernstein, the American author of Diabetes Solution advises against insulins with protamine or isophane. I dont have any experience of it myself and wondered what others thought. If we are able to change to animal insulin as my son tends to eat out or away from home a lot with his mates, could he still use a rapid acting analogue for these times.

Also wondered how people calculate the lengthy duration of short acting animal insulins .

It feels like a bit more of a responsibility as its not me thats taking it. Only after reading some of the reports especially about Lantus and peoples experiences of side effects on this forum, a change seems a good idea. C is a young man and he does try, most of the time to manage the diabetes, but the readings just dont make any sense, and he possibly doesnt tell me if he's feeling really bad, just know he looks really tired.

Thanks, xx
 
Hi Jen

C was at the diabetes clinic last week, first one in quite a long time, and tomorrow I will phone and get the results and ask if they tested for thryoid. Thanks x
 
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