Diabetes in Pets
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[[Image:Ultratardhm.png|frame|right|Novo Nordisk Ultratard HM-GE Human Ultralente insulin.]]Ultralente insulin crystals are large and slowly absorbed because of their size, making this a [[long-acting]] insulin. At one time, this type of insulin was also produced in [[bovine]], [[porcine]] and mixed bovine-porcine forms. The two who most recently took their last bows are of [[r-DNA/GE/GM]] origin.
 
[[Image:Ultratardhm.png|frame|right|Novo Nordisk Ultratard HM-GE Human Ultralente insulin.]]Ultralente insulin crystals are large and slowly absorbed because of their size, making this a [[long-acting]] insulin. At one time, this type of insulin was also produced in [[bovine]], [[porcine]] and mixed bovine-porcine forms. The two who most recently took their last bows are of [[r-DNA/GE/GM]] origin.
   
Ultralente is not used very successfully in dogs, but has been widely used in treatment of cats. With an [[onset]] of 1-4 hours and a [[duration]] of 12-24 hours. Most cats require 2 ultralente shots a day. Ultralente [[absorption]] can be erratic, with about 20% not responding to the insulin--not even with twice-daily dosing<ref>[http://www.ijpc.com/_pdf/Diab-vet.pdf International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding]</ref>.
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Ultralente is not used very successfully in dogs, but has been widely used in treatment of cats. With an [[onset]] of 1-4 hours and a [[duration]] of 12-24 hours. Most cats require 2 ultralente shots a day. Ultralente [[absorption]] can be erratic, with about 20% not responding to the insulin--not even with twice-daily dosing<ref>[http://petdiabetes.wikia.com/images/d/d5/Providing_care_veterinary_diabetics.pdf Providing Care for Diabeic Veterinary Patients-International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding-2000-Page 3]</ref>.
   
 
Ultralente insulin is not very reliable when used with many people, either. This is why it wasn't widely used enough to remain on either [[Eli Lilly]]'s or [[Novo Nordisk]]'s product list. There's great variability from patient to patient with this insulin<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11003253&dopt=Abstract Scandanavian Journal of Clinical/Laboratory Investigations-Use of Human Ultralente Limited By Great Intraindividual Variability]</ref>. Conclusion in this abstract is it has far too much day-to-day variability to be truly useful for many. Personally know people who were having night hypos requiring emergency services regularly while using it. Most humans not using an [[analog]] intermediate or long acting insulin for [[basal]] needs are or were using either [[NPH]] or [[Lente]] on an average of twice a day.
 
Ultralente insulin is not very reliable when used with many people, either. This is why it wasn't widely used enough to remain on either [[Eli Lilly]]'s or [[Novo Nordisk]]'s product list. There's great variability from patient to patient with this insulin<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11003253&dopt=Abstract Scandanavian Journal of Clinical/Laboratory Investigations-Use of Human Ultralente Limited By Great Intraindividual Variability]</ref>. Conclusion in this abstract is it has far too much day-to-day variability to be truly useful for many. Personally know people who were having night hypos requiring emergency services regularly while using it. Most humans not using an [[analog]] intermediate or long acting insulin for [[basal]] needs are or were using either [[NPH]] or [[Lente]] on an average of twice a day.

Revision as of 00:11, 5 August 2006

Humu00ut

Humulin U

British National Formulary[1] defines Ultralente-type insulins as: A sterile neutral (neutral used here refers to the pH, not to the fast-acting insulin known as neutral or R) suspension of bovine insulin or of human insulin in the form of a complex obtained by the addition of a suitable zinc salt; consists of rhombohedral crystals (10-40 microns).

British Pharmacoepia (BP) and United States Pharmacoepia (USP)'s definitions of ultralente insulin:[2]

Insulin zinc suspension (crystalline) BP

Sterile buffered suspension of bovine insulin to which zinc chloride is added. Crystalline form is insoluble in water. Prepared from crystalline insulin containing not more than 23 units/mg. White or almost colourless suspension. Particles are mainly crystalline. Majority of crystals having a maximum diameter greater than 10 m.pH 6.9 - 7.5 Iso-osmotic with blood. Preparation contains 40 and 80 units/ml.

(Note--the BP definition should actually read "mammalian", not "bovine". Novo Nordisk's Ultratard and Eli Lilly's Humulin Zn were both r-DNA/GE/GM insulins. Both were available until recently. Both were also U100 strength, so this strength should have been added above.)

U.S.P. - Sterile suspension of insulin contain 40, 80, 100 units/ml. Contains sodium acetate, sodium chloride and methyl hydroxybenzoate (Concentration same as for amorphous insulin) and zinc 120 - 250 ug. pH 7.2 - 7.5.

No Lente-type insulin regardless of species can contain any NPH/isophane insulin[3] or any R/Neutral insulin[4][5]. Both are chemically impossible: the phenol preservative present in NPH/isophane alters the action of Lente-type insulins, creating a mixture with an approximate action of R/Neutral. The zinc suspension of Lente-type insulin binds R/Neutral, causing the short-acting insulin to slow, losing its short-acting effect.

Ultratardhm

Novo Nordisk Ultratard HM-GE Human Ultralente insulin.

Ultralente insulin crystals are large and slowly absorbed because of their size, making this a long-acting insulin. At one time, this type of insulin was also produced in bovine, porcine and mixed bovine-porcine forms. The two who most recently took their last bows are of r-DNA/GE/GM origin.

Ultralente is not used very successfully in dogs, but has been widely used in treatment of cats. With an onset of 1-4 hours and a duration of 12-24 hours. Most cats require 2 ultralente shots a day. Ultralente absorption can be erratic, with about 20% not responding to the insulin--not even with twice-daily dosing[6].

Ultralente insulin is not very reliable when used with many people, either. This is why it wasn't widely used enough to remain on either Eli Lilly's or Novo Nordisk's product list. There's great variability from patient to patient with this insulin[7]. Conclusion in this abstract is it has far too much day-to-day variability to be truly useful for many. Personally know people who were having night hypos requiring emergency services regularly while using it. Most humans not using an analog intermediate or long acting insulin for basal needs are or were using either NPH or Lente on an average of twice a day.

Trade names:

Further Reading

Comparison of 2 Ultralente Insulin Preparations with Protamine Zinc Insulin in Normal Cats-American Journal of Veterinary Research-1994


References