Thanks Health Forum. I learned something very interesting.

[uppityperson]

I am getting back into nursing (thanks to the economy) and finding many things have changed in the last several yrs. For instance insulin. I read on DU that e.coli is used in making insulin now, rather than cow or pork serum thingies. I ran into this at work last night and just did some research and it is very interesting.

So, thank you DU Health Forum people for giving me a heads up on this. There is a lot of snarking in this forum, but sometimes something good pops up for me.

From the FDA pdf "LANTUS® (insulin glargine injection) is a sterile solution of insulin glargine for use as an injection. Insulin glargine is a recombinant human insulin analog that is a long-acting (up to 24-hour duration of action), parenteral blood-glucose-lowering agent (see CLINICAL
PHARMACOLOGY). LANTUS is produced by recombinant DNA technology utilizing a non11
pathogenic laboratory strain of Escherichia coli (K12) as the production organism."

[Warpy]

1. Beef and pork insulin disappeared for good about 15 years ago

as I recall, as soon as they were able to trick e.coli into producing human insulin. Lantus is the longest acting. There are also NPH and regular for intermediate and short duration coverage. All are being produced by talented little e.coli colonies and none have the potential for allergic reaction we used to see with the pork insulins.

Here's the scoop on how they did it: http://www.littletree.com.au/dna.htm

[pnwmom]

2. Good luck, uppityperson, in your new job.

:hi:

[uppityperson]

4. Thanks, so far it isn't as bad as I feared.

Of course have been doing orientation shadowing another nurse. Next wk I am on my own and am hoping for a peaceful couple days since I am no longer one of those "easy to multitask" people but instead one of those "little old nurses" who are meticulous and s....l....o....w.....

Ah well, better than the alternative.

[Why Syzygy]

5. I would love to have you as a nurse.

As our eyesight diminishes, our insight expands.

[Celebration]

3. Insulin

Other things that have changed--the price is ridiculously high compared to what it used to be. The "old" "human" insulins that were cheaper were simply dropped. Now it's all about the designer Lantus (lasts 24 hours, approximately), and Humalog and Novolog (very short acting). Using the combo is called the "poor person's pump.", because the short acting insulin can vary according to how much a person wants to eat.

A number of people liked the animal insulins a lot better, but they are not available at all in the US. However, they are available in other countries. Naturally, they are a lot cheaper.

Another intersting thing about insulin is that it should easily be generic--at least certain kinds. Well, the FDA won't issue guidelines on how to make it. What a joke. The Congress even told them to and they just ignored it. Uh, any wonder a number of us do not trust the FDA!!!!! The governors have all protested to the FDA because it shoots up the cost of state funded health care.