Comparison of the biologic activity of porcine and semisynthetic human insulins using the glucose-controlled insulin infusion system in insulin-dependent diabetes.

Semisynthetic human insulin is prepared from porcine pancreas by chemical methods involving the substitution of porcine B-30 alanine with threonine. To compare the effectiveness of porcine and semisynthetic human insulins, eight insulin-dependent diabetic patients were evaluated during two separate periods using a glucose-controlled insulin infusion system. During each 36-h period, patients received either porcine or semisynthetic human insulin. Patients ingested mixed meals. The mean daily insulin requirements for porcine and semisynthetic human insulins were 84 +/- 9 U and 85 +/- 6 U (+/- SEM), respectively (P = NS). Mean blood glucose values were similar at 95 +/- 1 mg/dl for porcine and 101 +/- 3 mg/dl with semisynthetic human insulin (P = NS). Prior metabolic control or insulin antibody levels did not correlate with intravenous insulin requirements. These studies indicate that semisynthetic human insulin is as effective as porcine insulin in maintaining near-normal blood glucose control in short-term intravenous studies using artificial pancreas techniques in insulin-dependent diabetes.