From: sasjcs@canoe.unx.sas.com (Joan Stout)
Subject: Re: Need some info on diabetes and other diseases
Originator: sasjcs@canoe.unx.sas.com
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 20:04:46 GMT
Organization: SAS Institute Inc.


In article <1993Jan4.190121.2761@cis.uab.edu>, sloan@cis.uab.edu (Kenneth Sloan) writes:
|> In article <17965@pitt.UUCP> geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks) writes:
|> >In article <1992Dec26.200710.2458@panix.com> andrewh@panix.com (Andrew Huie) writes:
|> >
|> >...
|> >>3) What are the usual methods for getting insulin into the body?  How
|> >>frequent can the treatments be?  What happens if the person gets  too  much
|> >>insulin?
|> >
|> >Injection is the only method, since the stomach digests insulin.  The
|> >insulin comes in some long acting varieties.  Best results seem
|> >to be obtain with more frequent injections.  Getting too much
|> >insulin is quite dangerous unless the person can take in glucose
|> >(orange juice will usually do).
|>
|> Is an implant style delivery possible?  [obvious objection: volume?]
|>
|> Failing that - is anyone working on a permanent implant site for
|> injections?  Or, are the repeated syringe sticks simply not a problem?
|>

Research teams are, indeed, working on an implant for insulin delivery.
My doctor expects it to be on the market in about two years. The most
promising (from what I've read and heard) is an implantable pump, about
the size of a hockey puck. It's implanted in the abdomen and does not
require anti-rejection drugs. The body forms a fibrous pocket around it.
The pump has a reservoir for insulin, and the reservoir is refilled with
a needle. Unfortunately, one still has to test blood sugar levels and
then tell the pump how much insulin to deliver via some kind of radio
transmitter. 

At least one research team, in Switzerland, is making progress on an
insulin pump that detects blood sugar levels and then administers
insulin based on the reading. That would be real progress in diabetes
treatment.

Non-implantable pumps are available and quite sophisticated. I use one
made by Disetronic. These pumps are the best method for imitating the
action of a normal pancreas. They are small (about 2X3 inches), light
weight (about 3 ounces), and incredibly expensive (about $4,000). The
pump has a cartridge or reservoir that holds insulin. Plastic tubing
runs from the pump. At the end of the tubing is a needle that is 
inserted, usually, into the abdomen and taped in place. The needle is
changed every 2-3 days (mileage varies). The pump user programs the pump
to deliver a certain amount of insulin every hour. This basal rate can
be very small - much small than can be delivered from a syringe. Before
eating, a bolus dose of insulin covers the food. Before using a pump,
I was taking four injections/day, so this is much easier for me. I get
better control, too.

|> Or, are the repeated syringe sticks simply not a problem?

Yeah, they're a problem. 8-) Some days more than others. If you are
interested in life with diabetes, subscribe to the listserv group.
To subscribe, send a message to

listserv@pccvm.bitnet

with the body of your mail containing

sub diabetic <your name>

Joan

<------------------------------->
|  Joan Stout                   |
|  Technical Writer             |
|  sasjcs@unx.sas.com           |
|  SAS Institute, Inc.          |
|  Cary, NC 919 677-8000        |
<------------------------------->