Eli Lilly Pharma Company dropped Air Insulin (inhaled form) phase 3 clinical trials. Pfizer dropped its inhaled insulin “Exubera” in 2007 due to its potential side effects on lung function. Novo Nordisk halted its inhaled insulin droplets drug, AERx, in January. Eli Lilly conducted "Air Insulin" clinical trials in partnership with biotechnology company "Alkermes". Even though Air Insulin had not shown any potential side effects in the clinical trials, Eli Lilly dropped this inhaler form due to lack of commercial viability, reluctance of doctors and potential regulation problems. Diabetics’ hopes for inhaler form were finally ended with Eli Lilly’s decision. They need to depend on injection form for some more time. But, Mankind is committed to continue its trials on Technosphere Insulin inhaler. Mankind is conducting phase 3 clinical trials on 2,050 patients. No significant side effects are reported till date. Click here to know more about "Air Insulin". … [Read more...]
A-Z about Insulin
Diabetes Mellitus is one of the most common lifestyle disease affecting millions of people all over the world. Luckily, mankind has got the wonder drug “Insulin” in their hands to protect themselves from that ailment. Now the diabetic patients can lead normal life safely and happily. But many patients have many misconceptions about insulin. So, detailed information about insulin is given below, to remove those wrong notions. The pancreatic gland in our body is constantly producing the hormone “insulin’, depending upon the demands of the body at various timings during the day. If the production of insulin is less or its efficacy of action is imperfect, the person develops diabetes. The Mechanism of Insulin production in the body: The food taken by us is digested and converts into glucose and enters the blood stream. Every cell in the body utilizes the glucose as energy for its normal function. But for the utilization of glucose by the cells, sufficient insulin should be present in the body. One way insulin acts as a “key’’. So first of all, Insulin should open the door of the cell and then glucose enters the cell. Otherwise glucose goes on accumulating in the blood and diabetes occurs in the body. So insulin plays a key role. Discovery of Insulin: Insulin was first discovered in the year 1920 by two scientists, Banting and Best, from the pancreatic gland of the dog. Later on insulin is prepared pig’s pancreatic gland and was used in the humans. But some persons raised objection to use insulin prepared from the pigs. Afterwards, insulin was prepared from the beef (buffaloes) and was in use up to 1980. But it was giving lot of troubles to the patients. Thereafter human insulin came into existence. It was prepared by keeping the human ‘DNA’ in the Ecolab bacteria. The insulin thus produced is almost like human insulin in all aspects. Later on human insulin has been produced by keeping the human DNA in the fungi, grown on the bread pieces. Presently this type of insulin is in use and is considered as the boon to the diabetic patients. Indications for Insuln use: Insulin is best being given to the following type of diabetic patients, through out their life. 1. Patients above the age of 70 years. 2. Patients suffering from diabetes for more tan 10 years. 3. If blood sugar level is more than250mg/100ml of blood on the empty stomach (without taking any thing), before breakfast. 4. If more than 500 mg level at any time during the day. 5. HbA1c (Glycosylated hemoglobin) is done once in 3months and if it is more than 10. (For these type of patients insulin has to given for 3months, afterwards oral medication is sufficient). 6. Triglyceride levels are more than 600 mg/1ooml of blood. (It is enough if insulin is given for 3months). 7. If micro albumin in urine is more than 20 mg. 8. Diabetic patients having heart problems, found in ECG testing. 9. Chest infections diagnosed on x-ray. 10. Finding retinal changes (retinopathy) in the eyes. 11. Any other serious diseases present in the body. Note: Type-1 Diabetic patients (juvenile variety) have to take insulin through out their life. If pregnant women develop diabetes, they have to take insulin until the completion of delivery. Insulin saved millions of lives in the past 80 years. Insulin is really a wonder drug. … [Read more...]
When to take Insulin?
Diabetes Mellitus is one of the most common lifestyle disease affecting millions of people all over the world. Luckily, mankind has got the wonder drug “Insulin” in their hands to protect themselves from that ailment. Now the diabetic patients can lead normal life safely and happily. But many patients have many misconceptions about insulin. So, detailed information about insulin is given below, to remove those wrong notions. The pancreatic gland in our body is constantly producing the hormone “insulin’, depending upon the demands of the body at various timings during the day. If the production of insulin is less or its efficacy of action is imperfect, the person develops diabetes. The Mechanism of Insulin production in the body: The food taken by us is digested and converts into glucose and enters the blood stream. Every cell in the body utilizes the glucose as energy for its normal function. But for the utilization of glucose by the cells, sufficient insulin should be present in the body. One way insulin acts as a “key’’. So first of all, Insulin should open the door of the cell and then glucose enters the cell. Otherwise glucose goes on accumulating in the blood and diabetes occurs in the body. So insulin plays a key role. Discovery of Insulin: Insulin was first discovered in the year 1920 by two scientists, Banting and Best, from the pancreatic gland of the dog. Later on insulin is prepared pig’s pancreatic gland and was used in the humans. But some persons raised objection to use insulin prepared from the pigs. Afterwards, insulin was prepared from the beef (buffaloes) and was in use up to 1980. But it was giving lot of troubles to the patients. Thereafter human insulin came into existence. It was prepared by keeping the human ‘DNA’ in the Ecolab bacteria. The insulin thus produced is almost like human insulin in all aspects. Later on human insulin has been produced by keeping the human DNA in the fungi, grown on the bread pieces. Presently this type of insulin is in use and is considered as the boon to the diabetic patients. Indications for Insuln use: Insulin is best being given to the following type of diabetic patients, through out their life. 1. Patients above the age of 70 years. 2. Patients suffering from diabetes for more tan 10 years. 3. If blood sugar level is more than250mg/100ml of blood on the empty stomach (without taking any thing), before breakfast. 4. If more than 500 mg level at any time during the day. 5. HbA1c (Glycosylated hemoglobin) is done once in 3months and if it is more than 10. (For these type of patients insulin has to given for 3months, afterwards oral medication is sufficient). 6. Triglyceride levels are more than 600 mg/1ooml of blood. (It is enough if insulin is given for 3months). 7. If micro albumin in urine is more than 20 mg. 8. Diabetic patients having heart problems, found in ECG testing. 9. Chest infections diagnosed on x-ray. 10. Finding retinal changes (retinopathy) in the eyes. 11. Any other serious diseases present in the body. Note: Type-1 Diabetic patients (juvenile variety) have to take insulin through out their life. If pregnant women develop diabetes, they have to take insulin until the completion of delivery. Insulin saved millions of lives in the past 80 years. Insulin is really a wonder drug. … [Read more...]
Avandia, Actos – Effects on Heart
GlaxoSmithKline’s diabetes drug Avandia will increase cardiac risks while Takeda’s Actos may reduce cardiac risks. These research results were published in the latest edition of Journal of the American Medical Association. The research was done on 14,000 patients in 4 clinical trials over 1 year period. Actos protect patients from heart attacks, strokes and death. It lowers cardiac risks by 18% while Avandia increases heart attack risk by 42%. But both drugs raise risk for heart failure. Both Actos and Avandia are Glitazones, diabetic drugs which lowers resistance to insulin. But Pioglitazone (Actos) reduces heart attack risk while Rosiglitazone (Avandia) increases heart attack risk. FDA may come under tremendous pressure to remove Glaxo’s Avandia from the market. Until May 2007, Avandia is the best selling diabetic drug in the world. Its prescription levels are dropped after Cleveland clinic researchers reported 43% rise in heart attacks in diabetics who are using Avandia, Rosiglitazone. This was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on May 21. Based on the analysis, the researchers estimate that for every 220 diabetic patients treated with Avandia for one year, one will have a heart attack linked to the drug. And, there would be one case of heart failure for every 30 people taking the drug for one year. Avandia received regulatory approval in 1999 and at that time no serious adverse events were recognized. However, since approval, Avandia has been linked to heart failure, vision loss, heart attacks and fractures in women. In United States, 3.5 million diabetics are taking Avandia. This could translate into more than 4,000 excess heart attacks and 9,000 excess heart failure events. Like Avandia, Actos also raised risk for heart failure by 40%. However, unlike Avandia, patients receiving Actos had an 18 percent lower risk of heart attack, stroke or death than patients in the control group. Both Avandia and Actos are carrying Blackbox warning on their labels. Whether Glaxo will withdraw Avandia from markets or not, its prescription levels may decline by almost 100%. No physician in his right sense will prescribe a drug whose side effects are severe enough to cause a death. Avandia will face Vioxx fate. Please share your opinion on this controversy. … [Read more...]
Types of Insulin and some facts
The pancreatic gland secretes approximately 24- 40 units of insulin per day, which are sufficient to our body needs (Otherwise, we have to give 2-3 times more amount of insulin from outside to the body needs). But the demands of insulin required by the body vary time to time in the body in the 24 hours. Insulin is generally taken in injection form through syringes or pumps. Inhaled form is also available in developed countries. The pancreatic gland estimates from time to time, and secretes the actual amount of insulin required by the body, for that time and situation, i.e. sometimes more and sometimes less amount of insulin. For example: 1. From 1 AM to 7 AM, our body is very active attending to the needs of the several of the body (metabolic activity is high), so the demand for insulin is also more, automatically. 2. Likewise, the demands for insulin is more at the time of mid-afternoon (1-2 PM) and the night time (8-9 PM). At the rest of the tomes, the body needs less amount of insulin, to some extent. Hence, we have to give insulin 1-2 times from outside (in the form of injection), as per the needs of the body. Types of insulin depending upon the duration of action: 5 types are available. 1. Short acting Insulin: Its action (controlling the glucose level in the blood) lasts for only 6 hours in the body. It acts very speedily and it looks almost like water. 2. Intermediate or medium acting Insulin: Its action lasts for 12 hours in the body, after taking injection. It is sticky in appearance (like gruel). 3. 24 hour’s Insulin: Its action, controlling the glucose in the blood, lasts for 24 hours only. It is also sticky in nature, appears like gruel. 4. Pre mixed type (30/70 type): In this variety, both short acting and long acting insulin 30% of short acting and 70% of long acting insulin are mixed in a vial at the time of manufacture itself. That means 30% starts its action as soon as the insulin injection is taken by the patient and the blood sugar level is kept within normal range and its efficacy becomes less after a certain time. Then the 70% type starts its action and keeps the blood sugar level under control for 12 hours.( other types like 50-50 mixed and 70-30 mixed types are also available). 5. Analogue types: Changes are made in insulin by different methods, to suit the body needs of the patient. In these types the chances of occurring ‘’ hypoglycemia’’ (low glucose levels in the blood) and its effects on the bodily organs, is less. Insulin Dose: Depending upon the glucose levels in the blood, the patient is given either short acting (when blood sugar levels are high) or long acting insulin injections (when the blood sugar level is less). For those estimations blood sugar tests are to be done whenever necessary. … [Read more...]
When to take Insulin?
Diabetes Mellitus is one of the most common lifestyle disease affecting millions of people all over the world. Luckily, mankind has got the wonder drug “Insulin” in their hands to protect themselves from that ailment. Now the diabetic patients can lead normal life safely and happily. But many patients have many misconceptions about insulin. So, detailed information about insulin is given below, to remove those wrong notions. The pancreatic gland in our body is constantly producing the hormone “insulin’, depending upon the demands of the body at various timings during the day. If the production of insulin is less or its efficacy of action is imperfect, the person develops diabetes. The Mechanism of Insulin production in the body: The food taken by us is digested and converts into glucose and enters the blood stream. Every cell in the body utilizes the glucose as energy for its normal function. But for the utilization of glucose by the cells, sufficient insulin should be present in the body. One way insulin acts as a “key’’. So first of all, Insulin should open the door of the cell and then glucose enters the cell. Otherwise glucose goes on accumulating in the blood and diabetes occurs in the body. So insulin plays a key role. Discovery of Insulin: Insulin was first discovered in the year 1920 by two scientists, Banting and Best, from the pancreatic gland of the dog. Later on insulin is prepared pig’s pancreatic gland and was used in the humans. But some persons raised objection to use insulin prepared from the pigs. Afterwards, insulin was prepared from the beef (buffaloes) and was in use up to 1980. But it was giving lot of troubles to the patients. Thereafter human insulin came into existence. It was prepared by keeping the human ‘DNA’ in the Ecolab bacteria. The insulin thus produced is almost like human insulin in all aspects. Later on human insulin has been produced by keeping the human DNA in the fungi, grown on the bread pieces. Presently this type of insulin is in use and is considered as the boon to the diabetic patients. Indications for Insuln use: Insulin is best being given to the following type of diabetic patients, through out their life. 1. Patients above the age of 70 years. 2. Patients suffering from diabetes for more tan 10 years. 3. If blood sugar level is more than250mg/100ml of blood on the empty stomach (without taking any thing), before breakfast. 4. If more than 500 mg level at any time during the day. 5. HbA1c (Glycosylated hemoglobin) is done once in 3months and if it is more than 10. (For these type of patients insulin has to given for 3months, afterwards oral medication is sufficient). 6. Triglyceride levels are more than 600 mg/1ooml of blood. (It is enough if insulin is given for 3months). 7. If micro albumin in urine is more than 20 mg. 8. Diabetic patients having heart problems, found in ECG testing. 9. Chest infections diagnosed on x-ray. 10. Finding retinal changes (retinopathy) in the eyes. 11. Any other serious diseases present in the body. Note: Type-1 Diabetic patients (juvenile variety) have to take insulin through out their life. If pregnant women develop diabetes, they have to take insulin until the completion of delivery. Insulin saved millions of lives in the past 80 years. Insulin is really a wonder drug. … [Read more...]
