The insulin used to treat diabetes comes from several sources. Beef and pork insulins are isolated from animal pancreases. Recombinant insulins are produced by genetic engineering and are chemically identical to the natural human hormone.Some of the insulins used in treating diabetes are modified to make them longer-acting than the natural hormone. The insulins available today come in several main types, which work for different periods of time. They may be used either separately or in various combinations.Regular or short-acting insulin is a pure form of insulin, sometimes called “plain,” “clear,” “unmodified,” or “R.” It is quick-acting but its effects do not last long. It starts working within half an hour, has the greatest effect in two to four hours, and is completely gone from the bloodstream within about six hours.Intermediate-acting insulins (Lente and NPH) enter the bloodstream about two to four hours after injection, have their peak effect in four to fourteen hours, and last from eighteen to twenty-four hours. (The name lente comes from the Italian word for “slow.”)Ultralente or long-acting insulin (called U) is a very slow-acting form; it takes from four to six hours to begin working, and peaks in fourteen to twenty-four hours. This type of insulin continues to work for thirty-six hours.Why are there different types? Fast-acting insulin is the best type for bringing a person out of a diabetic coma. But for daily use it is often rather inconvenient, at least by itself—since it lasts such a short time, a number of injections a day would be needed. Some of the longer-acting insulins do last throughout a whole day. But these insulins begin acting so slowly that they could not prevent serious sugar buildups if the user ate a meal at a time when the insulin’s action was not at its peak. Using mixtures of insulin can solve the problem—for example, an intermediate-acting insulin can take over when the short-acting form stops working.*34\268\2*
TYPES OF INSULIN
Posted: under Diabetes.
April 24th, 2011
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