in regards to your question on insuling and health: i have been a scientist longer than i have been a diabetic (17 yrs vs 4 yrs), but I still haven't taken the time to thoroughly research the effects of high insulin levels on the body. However, I have bits and pieces of info that I have stored away, and am taking notes on how my own body reacts to insulin. I have asked some diabetes specialists, and they just shrug their shoulders and says "who knows", but i think if it were too bad we woudl know by now.
Bits: high insulin levels cause cellular proliferation (i use it in my cell cultures all the time). The more insulin, the faster cells grow in a petri dish. I have a hypothesis that the more insulin you take, the more cells grow, and this can potentially effect different things in the long run. Interestingly, as I get used to shots, i have been taking more and more every year, and probably average ~30 units/day now not including Lantus.
Personal data: I inject myself in my left abdomen ~80% of the time, and i have recently noticed i have a larger fat pad on my left vs my right side. looks like they call this "lipohypertrophy", or fat growth. Likely, the local concentration spikes in insulin is selectively making my fat grow. Looks like it is common in diabetics, and I am spreading out my shots now. But I could see this having global effects for people taking very high levels of insulin....
I will be tracking myself and searching for more info as I have time, but I have a life to live and try not to be too obsessed about my Type 1 - so little by little i'll share what info i have....
great blog, and i am a recent new reader.
Comments
Merry Christmas, Kerri!
Posted by: Ryan | December 25, 2008 12:06 PM
Merry Christmas, Kerri! I hope Siah picked the perfect present for you :)
Posted by: Lee Ann Thill | December 25, 2008 01:14 PM
All the way from Canada.....
Kerri : Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones too .
Posted by: nel peach | December 25, 2008 01:45 PM
merry christmas to you and yours too!
landileigh
Posted by: landileigh | December 25, 2008 02:54 PM
Merry Christmas, Kerri.
Posted by: Ryan | December 25, 2008 08:16 PM
Merry Christmas to you as well, Kerri!
Posted by: Van | December 25, 2008 10:25 PM
Merry Christmas to you, too, Kerri!
Posted by: Seonaid | December 26, 2008 02:33 AM
Happy holidays to you Kerri!
Posted by: Scott K. Johnson | December 26, 2008 07:18 PM
Hi Kerri
in regards to your question on insuling and health: i have been a scientist longer than i have been a diabetic (17 yrs vs 4 yrs), but I still haven't taken the time to thoroughly research the effects of high insulin levels on the body. However, I have bits and pieces of info that I have stored away, and am taking notes on how my own body reacts to insulin. I have asked some diabetes specialists, and they just shrug their shoulders and says "who knows", but i think if it were too bad we woudl know by now.
Bits: high insulin levels cause cellular proliferation (i use it in my cell cultures all the time). The more insulin, the faster cells grow in a petri dish. I have a hypothesis that the more insulin you take, the more cells grow, and this can potentially effect different things in the long run. Interestingly, as I get used to shots, i have been taking more and more every year, and probably average ~30 units/day now not including Lantus.
Personal data: I inject myself in my left abdomen ~80% of the time, and i have recently noticed i have a larger fat pad on my left vs my right side. looks like they call this "lipohypertrophy", or fat growth. Likely, the local concentration spikes in insulin is selectively making my fat grow. Looks like it is common in diabetics, and I am spreading out my shots now. But I could see this having global effects for people taking very high levels of insulin....
I will be tracking myself and searching for more info as I have time, but I have a life to live and try not to be too obsessed about my Type 1 - so little by little i'll share what info i have....
great blog, and i am a recent new reader.
Posted by: Jon Rowley | January 1, 2009 08:10 PM