Comparison of Biosynthetic Human Insulin and Pork Insulin During Rest, Food Ingestion, and Physical Work in Insulin-dependent Diabetic Subjects Using a Glucose Controlled Insulin Infusion System

Abstract

In six insulin-dependent diabetic subjects, we investigated whether differences between biosynthetic human insulin (BHI) and pork insulin are present as measured by an automatic glucose controlled insulin infusion system (GCIIS) (Biostator). The parameters measured were basal insulin requirement and food-dependent insulin requirement, as well as the blood sugar-lowering and insulin-saving effect of standardized physical work. The results show that BHI does not reveal any differences with regard to the basal food-independent and food-dependent insulin requirement compared to pork insulin in insulin-requiring diabetic subjects. Delayed food-dependent initial rise in blood sugar and insulin during physical work, which was observed with BHI, does not show any differences in the integral over 180 min. These investigations confirm the results found in vitro and in animal experiments. At the same time, they indicate discrete differences in the activity spectrum.