tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774010.post7520616351992551100..comments2024-01-25T17:58:34.297-05:00Comments on Scott's Web Log: Insulin In the NewsScott Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286529314567223617noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774010.post-55892084000720893232008-09-09T11:21:00.000-04:002008-09-09T11:21:00.000-04:00Jenny,As always, thanks for your insight and comme...Jenny,<BR/><BR/>As always, thanks for your insight and comments! You're right about the education element, and my point was to call attention to the "dumbing down" of all diabetes patients including many who are receiving education from a CDE. At the very least, this should be mentioned so patients do not ignorantly use a product without knowing what they are putting into their bodies.<BR/><BR/>Your comment about local insurers refusing to cover pens at all is a troubling issue. A while back, Disetronic Medical Systems (which is now part of Roche and has since been re-branded Accu-Check Insulin Pumps, even though their devices don't actually "check" anything) had an "open" pen they called the Disetronic Pen. Essentially it required patients to fill their own cartridges with whatever insulin they used much the way patients on pumps fill reservoirs for use in their insulin pump. Alas, the product is no longer being sold, but an anonymous commenter said the following about Lilly's Humapen Memoir:<BR/><BR/>"Lilly doesn't like to talk about it, but the Lilly 3ml cartridge is in fact completely interchangeable with the Diestronic D-Tron 3ml reservoir. These reservoirs can purchased filled with insulin from Lilly or empty as D-Tron pump supplies, so you can load any insulin or insulin mix you want. (Beware, Disetronic has built two pens, the currently for sale uses H-tron reservoirs, and those DO NOT FIT the Humapens, only the D-Tron reservoirs fit the Humapen). Anyone who sells Disetronic (Now Roche Diagnostics) pump supplies will have D-Tron reservoirs."<BR/><BR/>You can order reservoirs from Disetronic-USA at (800) 280-7801, but you do need a doctor's Rx prescribing the need for the "D-Tron 3ml reservoir". I haven't actually tried it, but the idea of another open-label pen is very enticing, and could be a brilliant business case made to countless pharmacy benefits managers! Maybe I should do a business plan!<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/>ScottScott Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03286529314567223617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774010.post-16196146916350222008-09-09T10:53:00.000-04:002008-09-09T10:53:00.000-04:00Several items related to the above that are notewo...Several items related to the above that are noteworthy in terms of how little the FDA cares about our safety:<BR/><BR/>When pesticides are tested, it is a common rule of thumb that excessive doses of these toxic materials are given in order to bring about any adverse events quickly. In the case of the U-500 insulin, the pharmacist, speaking analogically, is putting a ‘speeding bullet’ into the hands of a one-year-old. The U-500 insulins exacerbate the symptomologies that are occurring every day in T1 and T2 diabetics who are taking insulins of 1/5 that strength. All this actually means is that those taking the lower-dosed product (U-100) experience the negative side effects in a more subtle, less alarming rate. The truth is, the side effects are still present. Insulin can still be categorized as one of the most dangerous drugs obtainable from your pharmacist.<BR/><BR/>Biodel’s VIAject products appear to need more investigation. One of the possible explanations for the difference found in the Indian population is the fact that their culture and culinary experiences are quite different from America’s and Germany’s. Maybe using A1c results to judge the acceptability of this new product is actually a case of using a ‘bad standard’, asking a bad question, and ending up with bad results.<BR/><BR/>The question I have regarding Organon, a Schering-Plough subsidiary—Who gave them permission to make a biologics product that is FDA-approved for Biodel? Does S-P (Organon) have a biologics out-sourcing agreement where they are supplying human rDNA regular insulin to other companies? Knowing what an executive at Novo said about the lack of EXACT molecule replication, could it be that ONLY their rDNA production process makes Biodel’s VIAject insulin work properly?<BR/><BR/>Under pseudo-news: I agree with you wholeheartedly. I am reminded of an old song, which must be the theme of the insulin cartel: Title—“Killing Me Softly.” They have been doing this to all of us for years with a plethora of smoke and mirrors.<BR/><BR/>--BrentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774010.post-34532843083664109402008-09-09T08:57:00.000-04:002008-09-09T08:57:00.000-04:00In case I haven't mentioned it in a while, I love ...In case I haven't mentioned it in a while, I love this blog. Thanks so much for tracking all this industry news for us!<BR/><BR/>Re U-500 and people not being taught the meaning of the "U-" term, Type 2s typically get NO true "diabetes education." They may be given a demonstration of how to inject in the doctor's office by a "nurse" which can be an LPN. But they are usually given doses too low threaten hypos which are also too low to give anything approaching good control. <BR/><BR/>Also re U-500, a friend of mine who was just prescribed it ran into the problem that the pharmacy would not fill the prescription and kept insisting it must have been a mistake. <BR/><BR/>Re Pens, checking out my options for insurance this next year in Massachusetts I find all the local insurers are refusing to cover pens at all. One allows an appeals process, but the appeal needs to say that the person needs the pen because they are blind. Another will only give me a 10% discount on retail price for pens as they aren't in the preferred formulary. <BR/><BR/>This is a change from two years ago when Pens were covered, and I wonder how prevalent this kind of policy is in other regions. As cost cutting continues, I'd expect to see it become more common.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17384082448952856117noreply@blogger.com