While patrolling the PubMed database this weekend, I came across a very interesting study that investigated the effects of new insulins on insulin and C-peptide antibodies, insulin dose, and diabetic control. Please note - this study was published in 1983. After reading -- I invite EVERYONE to let me know if it is possible to get purified pork insulin and whether or not you have been on it-- and if you have seen a difference in your diabetes control. Please?

24 diabetic patients using bovine (beef) insulin and possessing insulin antibodies underwent a study of the immunological and clinical consequences of changes in both purity and species of their insulin. The new insulin regimes tested were one of three: a) purified bovine insulin, b) highly purified porcine insulin, and c) semisythetic human insulin.

The patients underwent 3 consecutive 4-month periods on each insulin regimen. The average insulin antibody levels changed little on purified bovine (beef) insulin; actually increased on semi-synthetic human insulin but fell substantially on highly purified porcine insulin. Okay - so this means, in lay terms that the patient's insulin antibodies (the stuff killing your islets) remained relatively the same on beef insulin but became categorically HIGH on synthetic human insulin. And most importantly - to me-the highly purified porcine insulin actually DROPPED the insulin antibodies. Of course - it would cost big pharmaceutical companies more to manufacture highly purified porcine insulin.

C-peptide antibodies fell significantly and continuously throughout the study. The slower rate of fall in C-peptide antibody levels is likely to be due to the prolonged half-life of circulating exogenous proinsulin in the presence of insulin antibody. Although insulin dose remained constant the incidence of hypoglycaemic episodes did not increase and glycosylated haemoglobin levels rose significantly when patients were on porcine insulin. The deterioration in diabetic control may have been due to greater temporal mismatch between insulin needs and insulin availability with pork or human insulin than with beef insulins, and to reduced insulin antibody levels.

The use of purer insulins which more closely resemble the human form can cause a significant reduction in levels of insulin and C-peptide antibodies. These changes may not necessarily produce better diabetic control. Recent studies have shown that a depletion of C-peptide in the body results in a greater chance of microvascular complications associated with diabetes.

This study was published around the time when all of the synthetic human insulins were sweeping the Nation. I tried calling my local CVS Pharmacy on Saturday morning to see if I could get some purified porcine insulin. No such luck. Go figure. The big guys were successful at convincing the medical community and patients that no other insulin is better. Correction - no other insulin is cheaper to manufacture and that means it is better for them. And the importance of C-peptide was overlooked entirely - or was it? C-peptide prevents the complications associated with injecting insulin - but that sounds like another marketable drug. After all - synthetic human insulin doesn't have C-peptide. REAL HUMAN INSULIN does (the way it comes out of the beta cells, in natural form, it does)!!! And as long as your body is producing insulin antibodies - you NEED their synthetic insulin (conveniently -- the only kind you can buy). Best business model - customer for life!

Research data published by the prestigious British Journal of Haematology demonstrates that a patient's own blood has the capacity to assist in the regeneration and repair of a multitude of damaged tissues. The article sited technology developments and the scientific rationale supporting that technology. A novel stem cell population, called Synergetic Cell Population has been discovered and cultured under conditions that mimic the natural body environment where they develop into different cell types, such as blood vessel cells, heart muscle cells and even nerves.

The data is promising as it seems that circulating blood has a much wider healing capacity than had previously been thought. Researchers are only just starting to reveal the potential of the blood to generate various functioning cell types. Dr. Valentin Fulga, TheraVitae Ltd's CEO and co- author of the article, added that bringing these results to the scientific community through a peer-reviewed article, was a key step to TheraVitae's strategy of advancing scientific research into adult stem cells and their clinical applications. "We intend to make maximum efforts to offer new hope to patients suffering from diseases that are presently considered to be incurable. We are proud to have had this opportunity to publish our data in a distinguished journal such as the British Journal of Haematology," he said.

TheraVitae is a private, multinational company focused on using stem cells from the patient's own blood in order to treat a variety of disorders, especially cardiovascular diseases. The company has already developed a proprietary stem cell technology 'VesCell™' that is currently being used by hospitals in Thailand and Singapore to treat patients with heart disease. With advancements like this just around the corner, one only knows what kind of therapies will prevail from our very own blood supply. Who says familiarity breeds contempt? Familiarly breeds cures, if this one goes the mile!

Remember that Saturday Night Live skit Coffee Talk? Well, I happen to frequent a site with the same name and I thought it was a worthwhile share for the public service of stress management. CoffeyTalk offers inspirational wisdom and affirmations to help keep the overwhelming stresses of life in check, and every diabetic knows the importance of managing stress. This site is courtesy of Lissa Coffey, a best-selling author and a Ph.D. who shares ancient wisdom in her refreshing style.

An interesting fact about the way we treat each other and how it affects our stress levels compelled me to share this site. I felt it apropos to share with the diabetic crowd because anything that is scientifically proven to make our world less stressful is an emotional jackpot in my book.

Lissa shares a study from the University of Virginia that has determined scientifically the human touch helps the body respond to stress. And when it is the touch of someone we love, the affect is even more profound. When our partner holds our hand, the effect is that he or she is actually reaching a part of our brain that activates the immune system! Love helps us to live longer, healthier lives. Regular human contact with a loving partner can be like medicine for us.

How about that! Love, something each and every one of us has the ability to manufacture and dispense can affect us like a drug. Mental note: find myself a twitterpated turtledove so I might live to see 100. Thanks for the info, Lissa!