Most of the insulin used by people today is made by bacteria that have been genetically modified to produce insulin that is identical to insulin made in the human pancreas, according to the National Library of Medicine. That means that insulin is, technically, a genetically modified organism (GMO) product.
Though many people have concerns about GMO products and seek out GMO-free foods and personal care items, experts unanimously agree that GMO insulin is safe and superior to other forms of insulin. For most people, it’s the best option to manage their diabetes.
It’s been four decades since the first GMO insulin, a synthetic version of the human hormone insulin, was produced. This was a significant improvement over the insulin harvested from cows and pigs, says the American Diabetes Association (ADA). In the past decades, insulin manufacturers have learned how to modify GMO insulin so that it acts more slowly or quickly, considerably improving patients’ flexibility in diabetes management.
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