Insulin immunity

[Royce]

Is it possible after many years of taking man made insulin that your body could end up becoming immune to its effects?

[BlueSky]

Developing a sort of immunity was a problem with beef and pig insulin. It was not uncommon to have to inject huge amounts of the stuff to control BG because it was destroyed by an immune system response. But modern synthetic insulins are genetically identical to human insulin. So you can't berome "immune " to it.

Having said that, you can become increasingly insulin resistant. To the point that, no matter how much you inject, you can't get your BG down into the target range. But that is because of insulin receptors shutting down to protect the cells from the toxic effects of excessive glucose. :wink:

[JediSkipdogg]

Bluesky is right. Heck, if time made one become insulin immune I'd definitely be that. 24 years on insulin and yet I still have no problem. They do say though that over time you will take more insulin. The reasoning is partially insulin resistance building up and because of weight gain and being less active. It's just common that most people as they get old move around alot less therefore they need more insulin to do what exercise use to do.

[SueM]

Ok I am going to be different :dancing2: I take less insulin now than what I did as a11 year old child.

[Tricia452008]

Bluesky is right. Heck, if time made one become insulin immune I'd definitely be that. 24 years on insulin and yet I still have no problem. They do say though that over time you will take more insulin. The reasoning is partially insulin resistance building up and because of weight gain and being less active. It's just common that most people as they get old move around alot less therefore they need more insulin to do what exercise use to do.

I think it is wonderful that you have no problems kev and i hope you never will...

but some of us are not soo lucky.....I am insulin resistant and it is ****...

I am on 500mg of metformin in addition to my insulin and my bgs are getting much better than they were before

but if you think you may be resistant to insulin you should ask you doctor to put you on sylimin or metformin i cant stress this enough...my bgs overall have gotten much better....i am on less insulin and feeling much more normal now ::except for the bad mood swings when i am low lol::

but i am a diabetic going on 17 years and this happened to me and i am only 23.....my doctors to this day don't know why it happened it just did..what are you gonna do at least i know things are starting to get better....good luck!

[seacomp]

But modern synthetic insulins are genetically identical to human insulin.
The first generation of rDNA insulin, e.g., Humalin, is identical to the insulin produced by the human pancreas. The newer, "special", analog insulins, such as Humalog, Novorapid, Lantus, etc. are not. They differ in one of two amino acids (as pork and beef insulin do) from human insulin; these difference give these insulins there unique fast-actiing, or slow acting profiles.

[BlueSky]

.... The newer, "special", analog insulins, such as Humalog, Novorapid, Lantus, etc. are not. They differ in one of two amino acids (as pork and beef insulin do) from human insulin; .....

Does this mean that you can develop immunity to these insulins?

[JediSkipdogg]

Does this mean that you can develop immunity to these insulins?

I don't think you could develop immunity. But I do know people that they just won't work at all for. THeir body totally rejects those insulins.

[lilituc]

Some people have a problem with anti-insulin antibodies. If you suspect this is your problem, there is a test for it. The antibodies bind to the insulin and turn short-acting insulin into long-acting insulin, which results in erratic insulin effectiveness - unexplainable highs and lows, large doses of insulin required. The only treatment I know of is to go on an insulin pump. The way the insulin is released is supposed to help prevent the body from making enough antibodies.