Comments on: A Call-to-Pharma: Colored Insulin Would Help!

By: Stef Adams

Stef Adams — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:07:44 +0000

I trialled adding some food dye, it only took a tiny amount to change the colour I have emailed norvodisk who said that they would be unsure what detoriation colour would do, however i trialled my coloured insulin for a couple of weeks and my bsls were normal. the colour made the bubbles sso much easier to see in my pump tubing

By: BEEPEE

BEEPEE — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:51:52 +0000

I see another angle. My wife has been insulin dependent for 30 yrs. Over that time her vision has deteriorated tremendously, especially in regards to contrast.

She has a hard time telling when the vial is close to empty. This has left us scurrying to get a Rx called in a couple times when she has run out.

I mentioned the idea of adding food color to the insulin to her nephrologist, and advised against using food color.

There has to be something safe that could be used.

By: LaLa

LaLa — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:18:49 +0000

This idea is absolutely brilliant. I am also a pumper who has been plagued by unexplained highs, probably caused by air bubbles I can’t see. I used syringes for 20 years, and also injected Novolog instead of Lantus on two occasions–VERY scary. Additionally, I have always thought a dyed insulin that changes or loses color as it “goes bad” would be extraordinarily helpful. Why do our bodies have to be the “lab” to tell if the insulin is working?

I am trying to find out if anyone knows the effects of adding normal food coloring to insulin–is it harmful to the insulin or to the body? Everyone cautions against it, but I haven’t found anything so far that indicates this has actually every been tried or studied.

By: Adrien Pikovsky

Adrien Pikovsky — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:05:40 +0000

i believe that not only would colored insulin be good for insulin pump users, but if pharmaseutical companies would realize the potentials for all the senior citizens that cannot clearly see the amount of clear insulin that they are giving themselves and how much of an advantage having colored insulin would do for safe effective health care for seniors. it would eventually be very cost effective to the health care systrem.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Wed, 27 May 2009 03:06:25 +0000

Well,I agree on the Colored Insulin, but Now using the Pens? I’d like to see Different Color and types of Pens for each type of Insulin..
The Levemire and Novalog Pens are identical, other than the small color lable
I put Duct tape on one and keep the Levemire in the Fridge vs the Novolog Pen on the counter, etc.. In the First week of getting the Pens, sure enough, I took Novolog instead of Levemire and that was fund, downing 3 cans of coke and staying up for the next few hours and testing…

and a Adjustable top for the Novolog Pen wb nice too, so I can use it with leaving the Pen Needle on … for now? I put some Tape around the middle so the cover stays on tight with the pen needle on it..

By: Nick Grow

Nick Grow — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:12:50 +0000

Hi, I’m Amanda’s husband the guy in the first video, of course making another product line for each color of insulin is obnoxious what we had in mind was an additive you could do like how they flavor cough syrup for children ect. This would also require approval by the FDA but if you already have the lobbyists as most of these corp.’s do then pushing it through in any sort of timeframe is not an issue and for an extra buck or 2 for a bit of (most likely natural) dye from plants and extracts to have peace of mind or to make it exciting for children, and encourage them to keep up on their medications is WORTH it.

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 25 May 2009 23:44:38 +0000

If we’re going to be dying insulin, we should be dying pills too. Who wants to take a pain pill when they thought they were taking their heart medicine, but they’re both round, white pills?

But really, it’s not realistic to have every medication be a different color. I think different labels should be enough, particularly if people treat insulin with some of the respect it deserves.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 25 May 2009 04:18:59 +0000

How about a simple solution: Put a colored label on your insulin bottle yourself? Cheaper even still

Use those colored dots or label you get at the office supply store.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sat, 23 May 2009 13:03:47 +0000

How about putting different colored tape on your vials with the date opened and Do Not Use Past [Opened Date plus 30days]?

By: mollyjade

mollyjade — Sat, 23 May 2009 06:23:06 +0000

I agree with everyone else who is uncomfortable injecting dye daily. There are also plenty of people allergic to dyes, and that would leave them with difficulties.