U-500 in a pump

[Blue Knight]

Has anyone ever been perscribed U-500 and have you tried it in a pump?

[JediSkipdogg]

I don't believe anyone on here has although it's not odd. THe major problem is U-500 is only available in Regular insulin so you won't get as fast of an action as with more modern insulins.

[SueM]

I'm not 100% certain of this but I thought they had stopped producing U500 and only available until stocks run out.
Theress a lady on another forum who is going to have to go on U500 and the only one available now is pork insulin.

[w5wjp]

Last I heard U500 is still being made but is only available on special order.

I have thought of trying it but if I slip with U500, it means a trip to the hospital at best. If I slip with U100, no beg deal. Also, the fact that it is Regular and not one of the "logs" is something else I'd rather not have to deal with.

[SueM]

Actrapid U500 insulin to be discontinued - Diabetes UK (http://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/News_Landing_Page/Actrapid-U500-insulin-to-be-discontinued/)

[JediSkipdogg]

Actrapid U500 insulin to be discontinued - Diabetes UK (http://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/News_Landing_Page/Actrapid-U500-insulin-to-be-discontinued/)

I wonder if that applies to it's US version called R or not. I do agree that there's not a huge enough market to use it, especially since the delay in action is so long compared to modern insulins. Really, the only ones that need it are highly insulin resistant users.

[SueM]

I wonder if that applies to it's US version called R or not. I do agree that there's not a huge enough market to use it, especially since the delay in action is so long compared to modern insulins. Really, the only ones that need it are highly insulin resistant users.

I assumed it meant USA as well because it mentioned in the article the number of people using it in UK & USA

[JediSkipdogg]

I assumed it meant USA as well because it mentioned in the article the number of people using it in UK & USA

It didn't mention USA. It mentioned worldwide. I find it highly odd that 250 people use it in the UK and the US with more diabetics than anywhere else has less than 100 using it? That and in the US we don't have Actrapid which if the article research is based solely on the name it wouldn't include the US.

[SueM]

It didn't mention USA. It mentioned worldwide. I find it highly odd that 250 people use it in the UK and the US with more diabetics than anywhere else has less than 100 using it? That and in the US we don't have Actrapid which if the article research is based solely on the name it wouldn't include the US.

oops my misread :)

[gettingby]

I guess it is possible. I found this site which looks to be a Canadian site.
clinidiabet.com > insulin pumps > Conversion Chart u500 - u100 (http://www.clinidiabet.com/en/infodiabetes/pumps/37.htm)
Now I would not do this on your own, if it were me.

Kev, I think I read on the ADA site that U500 was still available as of 2005. Not sure though. I may have seen it elsewhere.

[JediSkipdogg]

I guess it is possible. I found this site which looks to be a Canadian site.
clinidiabet.com > insulin pumps > Conversion Chart u500 - u100 (http://www.clinidiabet.com/en/infodiabetes/pumps/37.htm)
Now I would not do this on your own, if it were me.

It's simple math...U500 is 5 times more powerful than U100. I think U500 should only be used by those that need say more than 150-200 units a day.

Kev, I think I read on the ADA site that U500 was still available as of 2005. Not sure though. I may have seen it elsewhere.

I looked and looked and looked and as far as I can tell Humilin R U500 is still available in the US with no plans to discontinue it's production. What I find odd is I thought R and Actrapid were the same besides a label change and were made in the same place. So seems if they cancel in one place they would cancel it everywhere. But I couldn't find any plans to cancel U500 R.