Comments on: Does insulin cause cancer, and should you stop taking Lantus? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/does-insulin-cause-cancer-and-should-you-stop-taking-lantus.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jerry Everettshttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/does-insulin-cause-cancer-and-should-you-stop-taking-lantus.html#comment-104029 Jerry Everetts Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:39:21 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39111#comment-104029 Man, I have been using Lantus for over a year now, and a lot of it too. This type of news makes me very nervous. I always worry that maybe some drug companies are keeping these kind of things on the hush hush to protect profits. Man, I have been using Lantus for over a year now, and a lot of it too. This type of news makes me very nervous. I always worry that maybe some drug companies are keeping these kind of things on the hush hush to protect profits.

]]> By: Christinehttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/does-insulin-cause-cancer-and-should-you-stop-taking-lantus.html#comment-100203 Christine Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:35:10 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39111#comment-100203 I find the recommendation to try Byetta instead of Lantus kind of odd, since Lantus is commonly used by type 1 diabetics, and Byetta is a type 2 med.Lynn, I'm GLAD Lantus is used in pregnancy. It's known to be far better at controlling glucoses than NPH. There's a weak link to Lantus and cancer. There's a strong link to better glucose control and healthier pregnancies. I find the recommendation to try Byetta instead of Lantus kind of odd, since Lantus is commonly used by type 1 diabetics, and Byetta is a type 2 med.

Lynn, I’m GLAD Lantus is used in pregnancy. It’s known to be far better at controlling glucoses than NPH. There’s a weak link to Lantus and cancer. There’s a strong link to better glucose control and healthier pregnancies.

]]> By: LynnBhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/06/does-insulin-cause-cancer-and-should-you-stop-taking-lantus.html#comment-99542 LynnB Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:01:30 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39111#comment-99542 Because insulin is a growth factor I do find it somewhat plausible that a very long acting insulin could in some indirect way allow or cause cancer cells to grow. High blood sugars can cause problems much more rapidly with a very high probability so I'm not about to give up on long-acting insulin.I would doubt that this problem , if it exists is unique to Lantus. Unfortunately there is no disinterested agency which will see if Levemir has the same problem or perhaps there is even an increased incidence of tumors with high doses of NPH insulin. The only group that will fund research is likely to be a pharmaceutical company and there is nothing in it for them so we may never know the answer.I get especially worried because many of my colleagues in obstetrics and gynecology are using this in pregnancy even though there is no data to support it and is not FDA approved. Because insulin is a growth factor I do find it somewhat plausible that a very long acting insulin could in some indirect way allow or cause cancer cells to grow. High blood sugars can cause problems much more rapidly with a very high probability so I’m not about to give up on long-acting insulin.

I would doubt that this problem , if it exists is unique to Lantus. Unfortunately there is no disinterested agency which will see if Levemir has the same problem or perhaps there is even an increased incidence of tumors with high doses of NPH insulin. The only group that will fund research is likely to be a pharmaceutical company and there is nothing in it for them so we may never know the answer.

I get especially worried because many of my colleagues in obstetrics and gynecology are using this in pregnancy even though there is no data to support it and is not FDA approved.

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