Although persons with type 2 diabetes may need to take insulin shots in the latter part of their treatment, those with type 1 diabetes come to the realization very quickly that insulin is their best friend. In fact, you could call insulin a “savior” for type 1 diabetics.
The major drawback to using this drug is the fact that most people have to take it through needles. Although there has been different types of ways that inventors have tried to come up with in order for diabetics to take their insulin, the most common and most effective way is by needle.
Where Does Insulin Come From?
Did you know that up until just a few years ago, the only way that insulin could be obtained was by taking it from the pancreas of an animal, such as pigs, fish, or cows? Although this did seem to work okay and the insulin could be used for humans, it was not exactly perfect because the insulins from other animals are a little different from the insulin found in humans.
Because of these differences within the insulin, diabetic patients came down with bad reactions to their immune system as well as developed skin reactions. Even though the insulin that was extracted from these animals went through a purification process, there were still small amounts of impurities that were left behind. Finally, towards the end of the 1970s researchers discovered a way to manipulate bacteria in order to produce human insulin. Currently, 99% of all insulin is pure human insulin.
When it came to the strength of insulin injections, there used to be only two measures. One measure was the U40 and the other was the U80. These numbers represent “units per milliliter” which were either 40 units per milliliter or 80 units per milliliter, respectively.
However these measures were confusing. This is especially true if someone were using the wrong syringe. If you had to use U80 insulin then you had to have a U80 syringe. In order to end this confusion, a standardization law was implemented within the United States that made all insulin U100 (100 units per milliliter). And every syringe that is made for insulin shots are also U100 syringes.
Sometimes the best offense against diabetes is a good defense. Click here to discover the truth about diabetes.
This free article is provided by the FreeArticles.com Free Articles Directory for educational purposes ONLY! It cannot be reprinted or redistributed under any circumstances.
Article Copyright By Author. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
| 
