Insulin alert

The Food and Drug Aministration (FDA) has issued a warning for all consumers not to use Levemir insulin lots XZF0036, XZF0037 and XZF0038.  According to the report, these vials may not have been stored properly and could pose a serious risk to consumers, such as  dangerous blood sugar levels after use.

Manufacturered by Novo Nordisk, 129,000 vials of insulin from the three lots mentioned were stolen in North Carolina back in June. To date only 2 percent have been recovered.

If you need to switch from Levemir insulin to another type for any reason, be sure to contact your doctor first, as another brand may require some adjusting in the dosage you take.

Insulin is a protein hormone composed of 51 amino acids secreted by the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas that regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats required for the body to function normally. Certain cells change the food ingested into energy, or blood glucose that the body can use. Every time a person eats, blood glucose levels rise. The  Islets of Langerhan release a small amount of insulin into the body continuously. However,  they release surges of the hormone in response to an increase in the blood glucose level.

Without insulin, the glucose levels build up in the blood and the cells are deprived of their energy source. Some of the symptoms that may occur include fatigue, constant infections, blurred vision, numbness or tingling in the hands or legs, and increased thirst. In addition, lack of glucose forces the cells to use fat as an energy source instead. However, when this occurs over a length of time the body begins to increase production of chemicals known as ketones which can eventually  poison and kill cells if they build up in the body over an extended period of time.

People whose bodies cannot produce the necessary amount of insulin end up having diabetes. The most severe type, known as Type 1 (juvenile-onset diabetes) occurs when the body does not produce any insulin. Type 1 diabetics usually inject themselves with different types of insulin three to four times daily.  People with Type 11 diabetes produce some insulin, but have difficulty breaking down carbohydrates. Most do not need to take insulin. Without proper medication, however, all diabetics can become at risk for heart disease, kidney problems, blindness and other serious complications, including coma.

 According to the American Diabetes Association, there are four main types of insulin. Rapid-acting insulin reaches the blood within 15 minutes, peaks at 30-90 minutes, and may last five hours. Short-acting insulin reaches the blood within 30 minutes. It peaks about two to four hours later and stays in the blood for four to eight hours. Intermediate-acting insulin reaches the blood two to six hours after injection, peaks four to 14 hours later, and can last in the blood for 14-20 hours, while long-acting insulin takes six to 14 hours to start taking effect. It peaks soon after, and remains in the blood for 20-24 hours.