Insulin availability

AII insulins available in the United States are made by human recombinant DNA technology. An insulin analog is a modified human insulin molecule that imparts particular pharmacokinetic advantages. 

TABLE 1.3. Sequence variation among insulins available for human administration... 

Insulin cannot be taken as a pill as it is broken down during digestion, similar to protein in food. Therefore it is injected under the skin (subcutaneously). There are more than 20 different preparations of insulin available, but essentially there are four classes determined by the speed of onset, the time of reaching the peak plasma concentration and the duration of activity in the body ... 

T3 has an amplifying or facilitatory effect on the lipolytic action of epinephrine on the fat cell. Yet thyroid hormone has a bipolar effect on lipid storage, because it increases the availability of glucose to the fat cell, which serves as a precursor for fatty acid and glycerol 3-phosphate synthesis. The major determinant of the rate of lipogenesis, however, is not T3, but rather the amount of glucose and insulin available to the adipocyte for triacylglycerol synthesis. 

C. Types of Insulin Available Human insulin is manufactured by bacterial recombinant DNA technology. Purified porcine insulin is also available in the USA. Because the insulin molecule has a half-hfe of only a few minutes in the circulation, many preparations for use in diabetes are formulated to release the hormone slowly into the circulation. 

NovoNordisk to make insulin available to 50 of the world s poorest counties at no more than 20% of the average price in Europe, North America and Japan has been applauded [3], However, the impact of this initiative has so far been limited. 

Almost all the insulin available now comes from recombinant DNA modified E. coli bacteria. These bacteria that include genes for human insulin production yield insulin that, when purified, is less likely than animal insulin to cause allergic reactions. Human insulin was the first major product produced by the biotechnology industry. 

Another condition, less common, that could result from decreased insulin availability or effectiveness also involves the excess buildup of glucose. This condition, referred to as hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS), is an extreme hyperglycemia without the development of ketones. Similar to DKA, HHS results in an osmotic diuresis with loss of fluids in the urine along with a loss of electrolytes. 2 4... 

The basic level of insulin in the blood varies from subject to subject. For example, the basic level is usually higher than normal in obese individuals. The intravenous administration of a single injection of glucose causes an immediate insulin release (with a 2-5-minute peak). The response is acute and makes stored insulin available. Thus, a short feedback loop exists between glucose and insulin stores. 

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