Applications of Insulin

Weight regulation
In the early years of insulin availability, it was marketed for both weight loss and weight gain.

Bodybuilding
Insulin has been discovered by bodybuilders. They know it as "the most anabolic hormone", and a few are injecting themselves with about 10 units of insulin, followed by at least 100 gm of carbohydrates, usually after exercise so that insulin combined with growth hormone will enhance muscle growth rather than fat. This is a very dangerous practice, and could lead to death if sufficient carbohydrates are not consumed in time.

Dialysis shock recovery
A kidney dialysis nurse said that in her clinic they had found that a little bit of insulin added to an elecrolyte solution helped patients absorb electrolytes quickly to recover from dialysis shock.

Cell culture
Insulin is used as an essential growth promoter for mammalian cell cultures in the laboratory .

Organ preserving solution
There are several recipes used for making solution to preserve organs for transplantation, and insulin is an important ingredient in at least some and perhaps all of them. Among other things, the insulin may be increasing cell wall permeability, and helping cells under stress absorb nutrients and eliminate toxins.

Cola drinks
They may be seen as drug delivery systems. The sugar content increases insulin secretion in the body, which may boost caffeine transport across the blood-brain barrier and absorption into cells of the nervous system.

Sport drinks (including Gatorade®)
Oral rehydration solution (water, sugar, and electrolytes). Sugars in these drinks increase insulin secretion in the body, which speeds absorption of water and electrolytes into all the cells of the body.

Therapy for poisoning
By severe calcium channel blocker overdose. A mixture of insulin and glucose may greatly increase survival from this type of poisoning. Many other detoxification applications may exist for acute and chronic poisoning.

Insulin coma therapy
From the mid-1930s to the mid-1950s, this was common in psychiatric treatment of schizophrenia and depression. It was discovered in Germany, and spread to the US with emigration of psychiatrists before World War II. A moderate amount of insulin was given, enough to restrict glucose supply to the brain, causing shock, coma, and convulsions. Electroconvulsive therapy mostly replaced it in the 1950s through 80s. Interestingly, the therapy apparently still persists in Germany, although less insulin is now given, coma is avoided, and it is called "modified insulin therapy". There are fairly recent reports of remarkable success in treatment of schizophrenia and depression. Not being aware of IPT results in Mexico and Canada, psychiatrists have apparently missed out on the benefits of adding medication and nutrients during a mild controlled pulse of hypoglycemia, IPT.

Breast augmentation
In the literature there is a report that insulin self-injected in the breasts of a diabetic woman augmented their size. Further research would have to be done before this could be recommended. Would be concerned about possible increased breast cancer risk.

There are 3 parts to Applications:

>You are Here: Part I - Several Applications of Insulin<

>Part II - Annual Insulin Production<

>Part III - Companies Manufacturing Insulin<