I am an insulin-dependent diabetic - a life-long medical condition. At the beginning of the 1980s, all diabetics were transferred from animal to human insulin. However, for me, this caused many years of extremely bad health, including three operations which were unnecessary. I am very angry that my treatment with genetically produced human insulin was the cause of my ill health. This was proven by my dramatic recovery following a change back to natural animal insulin.

I am even angrier that all the doctors I have seen over the years assumed that my ill health has been 'all in the mind'. I feel it is horrendous that other diabetics may suffer as I have done, simply because doctors do not consider the possibility that human insulin may be the cause.

Drug companies are making a great deal of money from human insulin, and the medical profession seems to be brainwashed by their sales patter. What also amazes me is that between 1986 and 1989, the British Diabetic Association has apparently received 2000 to 3000 letters from people complaining about human insulin.

Nevertheless, we have heard little about this in the press, and when I have called various organisations, feeling desperately ill, I've been told that human insulin is perfectly safe.
When I was at a low point, it was largely the help and support of the Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust which gave me the courage to insist on trying animal insulin. As a result, I feel a different person.

I sometimes wonder how different my life would have been with better health over the last 12 years. I would like to find out why this serious medical issue is being kept quiet. It must be brought into the open for the sake of all diabetics requiring insulin both now and in the future. The fact that this is happening at all in 1997 is an indictment of our medical system.- H G, Northampton.