Diabetes insights.

摘要

It was with some disappointment that I noted the inclusion of an Advertising Feature entitled "Diabetes insights" for NovoMix 30, a premixed insulin analogue, in the Dec 17 issue. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF)1 states that "Insulin analogues offer potential advantages but until these are proven to deliver real long-term benefits safely and affordably, it seems appropriate to use them only in patients experiencing specific problems with hypoglycaemia".I was further disappointed to read that the information in the advertisement was factually incorrect in stating that premix insulins come in only two types: human or analogue. Porcine insulin in premix form is available in the UK and is supplied by both Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, the advertiser, and by Wockhardt UK. In the UK and other countries, porcine insulin is essential treatment for a minority of patients unable to tolerate human or analogue insulin. And according to the IDF, it "remains a perfectly acceptable alternative".