I find that odd that animal insulin isn't licensed for pump use. Pumps were in use long before synthetic insulin's were manufactured.
The only insulin that is not supposed to be used in pumps is actrapide sp* and it says so on the tin.
A lot of the problem is that most of the consultants now days have been force fed that analogues are the best thing since sliced bread so haven't learnt and do not want to know about animal insulin. Analogues are more expensive than animal insulin or always used to be so it isn't doing the nhs any favours.Call me a cynic, but I've always assumed it's because there's more money in the analogues. Or maybe because some companies do deals with insulin manufacturers
A lot of the problem is that most of the consultants now days have been force fed that analogues are the best thing since sliced bread so haven't learnt and do not want to know about animal insulin. Analogues are more expensive than animal insulin or always used to be so it isn't doing the nhs any favours.
Your dsn is quoting 45 year old research. Both pork and beef insulin now have a phosphate buffer in them so wont crystallize. I used the stuff for 50 years and 8 of them in a pump with no problem. Only one blockage in all the time I have pumped and that was due to a bent cannula.Well... I'm all connected -- but on Novo for now... I did ask about whether I could start on Porcine -- but she said it really wasn't advisable due to crystallization (I do know this isn't what people actually experience) and that it would reduce the pumps flexibility and adaptability... I really wasn't going to push things as she is a) really lovely and b) was about to start me up; I wanted no reasons to stop that happening!
Your dsn is quoting 45 year old research. Both pork and beef insulin now have a phosphate buffer in them so wont crystallize. I used the stuff for 50 years and 8 of them in a pump with no problem. Only one blockage in all the time I have pumped and that was due to a bent cannula.
Glad you're all set up, Artemis
When I got my last pump (an Insight which I gave back because I didn't like it at all), the rep assumed I'd be swapping to Novorapid even though the DSN knew I was on porcine. I made it clear I didn't want to go onto Novorapid and the rep was very good about it. I'd already done the research about animal insulins in pumps when I had to convince my consultant it was a good idea, so I just quoted that at the rep!
There is no evidence of porcine crystallising in pumps. Modern animal insulins are highly purified. I've never had any kind of issue like that with my porcine, and I've been using it in my pump almost two years. I'm sure you know that anyway, but I just thought I'd say it again for any other readers.
When I swapped to porcine from Humalog, I kept all my basal rates the same but just shifted them back an hour (because the porcine takes longer to have an effect). It was surprisingly easy. I was anxious that my BS would go haywire, but it stayed in range.
I know you don't plan to swap at this moment, but just to reassure you again that porcine is fine in a pump and no more difficult than an analogue.
Enjoy your pump!
Glad you're all set up, Artemis
When I got my last pump (an Insight which I gave back because I didn't like it at all), the rep assumed I'd be swapping to Novorapid even though the DSN knew I was on porcine. I made it clear I didn't want to go onto Novorapid and the rep was very good about it. I'd already done the research about animal insulins in pumps when I had to convince my consultant it was a good idea, so I just quoted that at the rep!
There is no evidence of porcine crystallising in pumps. Modern animal insulins are highly purified. I've never had any kind of issue like that with my porcine, and I've been using it in my pump almost two years. I'm sure you know that anyway, but I just thought I'd say it again for any other readers.
When I swapped to porcine from Humalog, I kept all my basal rates the same but just shifted them back an hour (because the porcine takes longer to have an effect). It was surprisingly easy. I was anxious that my BS would go haywire, but it stayed in range.
I know you don't plan to swap at this moment, but just to reassure you again that porcine is fine in a pump and no more difficult than an analogue.
Enjoy your pump!
How are you getting on @-Artemis- with the 640g and Smartguard? I hope things are going well for you
I have found the Smartguard brilliant and already have seen a big reduction in the amount of time I was spending in the low 3's.
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