Abstract

Purified porcine insulins were developed to reduce the immunogenic properties of conventional insulin. About 95% of diabetics who use standard beef insulin develop insulin antibodies within the first 12 weeks of treatment.¹ These antibodies may increase the daily insulin requirement and slow the hypoglycaemic action because active insulin may be only gradually released from the antigen-antibody complex. Suggestions that the antibodies also increase the incidence of long-term diabetic complications^2–4 are not widely accepted.