Healthy Skepticism Library item: 12827

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Publication type: media release

Hirst J.
Animal insulin still available
Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust 2008 Feb 14

Full text:

THERE are around 20,000 people with diabetes [in the UK] taking animal insulin mainly because of adverse reactions to synthetic so-called human insulins.

At the end of 2007 the most well-known manufacturer of animal insulin, Novo Nordisk, chose to discontinue supplying it.

Unfortunately many people have been told that there is no other supplier of animal insulin, and they are being changed to insulins which do not suit them.

Here at the Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust we are desperately trying to reassure your readers that there is another supplier and that Wockhardt UK/CP Pharmaceuticals do have equivalent animal insulins available in vials and cartridges.

Wockhardt UK has assured the trust that they will continue to produce animal insulin for the foreseeable future and that people using animal insulin have no need to worry.

The synthetic human insulins can have dreadful side effects for some people including depression, loss of hypoglycaemia warnings, extreme weight gain, tiredness and memory loss.

So it is vital that people are made aware that they can still obtain the animal insulins they need and they do not to go back to using the synthetic insulins that had such a negative effect on their lives.

We really hope you will help us help your readers by informing them that alternative animal insulins are available and if they would like more information about this to contact IDDT on enquiries@iddtinternational.org or on 01604 622837 or at IDDT PO Box 294, Northampton, NN1 4XS.