INSULIN TREATMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18471, 7 August 1923, Page 9

INSULIN TREATMENT.

LIMITATIONS IN USE.

DIETING STILL NECESSARY. [SI TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] '.. CHBISTCHURCH,' Monday. With reference to the use of insulin in the treatment of diabetes cases, one Christchurch doctor stated to-day that the supply of insulin in New Zealand,was at present very limited and until insulin was made available in quantities which ensured a permanency in the treatment I of certain olassiesi of diabetic cases little could be done. Speaking of the effect which its discovery was having upon the general public, th« doctor stated that often as soon' as a patient suffering from diabetes came into his consulting room' he was asked if it would be possible to prescribe the new insulin treatment. Very often such a course was not advisable ana quite impossible. The treatment itself involved the consideration of a number ol very complicated technical details, and firstly, the Allen's diet chart system had to be nut into operation. Insulin even at that stage had to be administered with the greatest care. Referring to the supplies at present available in New Zealand, he stated there was a possibility that insulin would shortly be ' manufactured in the : Dominion.; J + ■■ ■•,•- Dr. A. B. Pearson and Dr. R. Milligan, of the pathological department of the Ohristchurch Hospital, stated that diabetic cases 1 had to be subjected to the most careful treatment before the administration of insulin was undertaken, > and the course of dieting had to be observed with just' as much oare now as, was the case before the advent "'.._ of insulin. Unless treatment with insulin could be carried on permanently! in cases for which it was suitable it was inexpedient to use it. It was looked on as an emergency remedy at present. i; On<» patient was under insulin treatment at the ' Ohristchurch Hospital at the present time, and the results so far were quite satisfactory. Bad cases of diabetes required insulin treatment: permanently. Such course should not be started "until supplies were assured and, even when such was the case, the treatment of the disease- by this method was very expensive. ■ -'•-,'- Dr. Milligan istated it was necessary to determine the potency of the English preparation which was being landed in New Zealand before the treatment could be embalmed upon with any" degree of confidence. Bv the time the insulin manufactured in feiglaisd reached' here it was three months old and it was possible that during that peiiod its potency would decrease. . ■ ■ "' '•■