It is certainly true that different people react differently to a particular medical product. Porcine insulin has continued in production because it does seem to work better for some people. It is much more expensive to produce, and the supply is somewhat limited by the need for someone to eat the rest of the pig.

For the great majority of diabetics, the human-analog insulin produced from bacterial sources provides the necessary control, if used appropriately and with the necessary other "good things" that diabetics need to do.

With the increasing number of people being diagnosed as diabetic and needing insulin, it is something of a medical miracle that a cheaper, and relatively unlimited, supply from bacteria is now available, and for most diabetics, it works. There are not enough pigs to supply all of those who now need insulin. Within my memory, I have known diabetics who suffered consequences considered unnecessary and preventable today because there was not enough insulin available for them to get insulin in the amounts that would be used today.

The pig is considered the "medically most human" animal, and allergic reactions to porcine medical products are not too common, but they do occur. Because allergic reactions can be triggered by repeated exposure to things that were not originally a problem, use of any "animal" derived product requires constant concern about the possiblity of changes in response.

Allergic reactions - or other unfavorable "body responses" - are much less frequent for the analog insulins, although even with these there are times when something else works better. Diabetes is one condition that virtually demands continual consultation with persons trained in its medical management - and serious effort by the patient in maintaining control and in adapting to changes in the condition.

'nuf soapbox.

John