Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The Evolution of Insulin

There have been many changes in types of insulin and delivery systems. I have had four different combinations of insulin and two different options of delivery. First it was Regular insulin combined with NPH. NPH lasted longer than the regular and had an extra substance in it. You had to gently roll the vial to mix the solution before you injected it. You could mix the two insulins together in one shot. It lasted maybe half a day.

After that was regular insulin and something called lente. Then came humalog and lantus. Now I take novalog and lantus. Each change came with longer lasting long term and quicker acting shorter lasting short term.

In the beginning everything was delivered with a syringe. Now both my insulins can be taken with a pre filled cartridge or "pen". I keep one as a pen and the other with syringe. Over the years I stock piled on syringes so I figured it was a good idea to keep that option open.

I haven't thought too seriously about the pump.

I expect the type of insulin I take and the way I take it will change again and again as time goes by. I would also expect longer lasting insulin. In fact I saw somewhere that longer insulin is already being talked about.

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