Omnipod & porcine insulin

Diabetes Technology Insulin Pumps
1

Does anyone use porcine insulin in their Omnipod?
Did you have issues switching from synthetic insulin like Apidra?
Do you live in the US, and if so, how do you get your porcine insulin?

2

I don't have any information on that at all, but I am sincerely curious why anyone still uses porcine insulin today? Heck, I didn't even now it was still available.

I personally developed anti-bodies to both beef+pork and pure porcine back in the early 80's. Ended up comatose both times before we figured out what was the cause. Insulin completely failed to work over time, dosages kept getting higher with results going lower on a constant basis.

Is there a medical reason you are going backwards towards porcine?

3

There is one scenario that fits this question. If you are insulin resistant, then you might want to use the "U500" version of insulin. This version is only available in a Porcine derived solution. And anti-bodies from past use may no longer be a problem. Though there are other issues to consider.

4

Yes. I've used porcine insulin in my Omnipod. It worked perfectly fine like Humulin regular, which I used also in the Omnipod. I currently use Humalong. I began having severe lows with the regular insulin because the peak times were erratic (3 hours or 4 hours after bolus). I switched to Humalong because it lowered the window of lows because the insulin was out in 3 hours. I do live in the US. When I ordered the porcine insulin, I got it from Canada. The brand name of the insulin was Hypurin. I do not know the personal import laws, now. But I haven't ordered it since my kidney transplant in May 2010.

5

Thanks Scott, I wasn't aware of the U500 being restricted to porcine, so yeah, that makes sense I guess. I am sure glad I don't have that issue on top of everything else that D has decided to give me over the years. I actually think that I am a bit more sensitive to insulin that I should be. Small doses have large effects on me now. Didn't use to be that way, but I take less than 35 units now between all 4 shots per day... 23 basal levimir(sp) and 2-5 in up to 3 shots per meal according to carb level. I have to be careful with severe low levels as much as I have to watch for severe highs. Many meals I don't add any extra at all even though most carb counts would say that I should. I am finding that I drop way to quickly now.

6

FYI U500 is concentrated Humulin R

7
"U500" version of insulin. This version is only available in a Porcine derived solution
This simply is not true, Scott. U500 Humulin has been available for a long time:

Humulin R (Concentrated) (U-500) medical facts

It's made by Lilly.