Is Insulin Vegan?

Like a lot of medical interventions, insulin has an unpleasant past

People who are diabetic, or know someone who is diabetic, will have heard of the medication insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, just above your stomach, that plays a critical role in regulating blood sugar (glucose) levels in the body. It allows cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream to use for energy or store for future use. It is the storage of glucose within the cells that maintains healthy blood sugar levels and keeps them stable. When you eat something with sugars in it the extra glucose is stored in the cells, when you need more glucose it is released from the cells. This process of blood sugar regulation is something that has gone wrong in people who have diabetes and this is where the medication insulin comes in.

Science has a long history of animal cruelty

Medical Uses of Insulin

There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 diabetes is where the body doesn't produce enough insulin, Type 2 diabetes if the form where the body cannot use insulin effectively, they have become insulin resistant. Insulin is mainly used for those who have Type 1 diabetes to replace the insulin that they cannot make, but is sometimes used to help regulate glucose levels for those who have Type 2. Insulin can also be used in emergency situations, such as diabetic ketoacidosis, where blood sugar levels rise dangerously high.

History of Insulin: From Animal Sourcing to Modern Production

The history of insulin dates back to the early 20th century when it was first extracted from the pancreases of animals, specifically pigs and cattle. In 1921, Canadian scientists Frederick Banting and Charles Best successfully isolated insulin from the pancreases of dogs, leading to the first use of animal-sourced insulin in human patients. For decades, insulin was sourced from pigs and cows, as their insulin is more similar to human insulin and therefore more effective. However, this animal-derived insulin posed ethical concerns for some groups, including vegans and those with religious dietary restrictions, as well as the potential for allergic reactions.

The advent of recombinant DNA technology in the 1980s revolutionised insulin production. Scientists developed a method to insert the human insulin gene into bacteria or yeast, which then produce insulin identical to that naturally occurring in humans. This biosynthetic "human" insulin is now the standard, offering a more consistent, ethical and hypoallergenic alternative to animal-derived insulin. As a result, modern insulin is vegan, meeting ethical standards for those who avoid animal products while also providing a safe and effective treatment for diabetes.

Animals in Medicine

There is a long history of animal use in medicine and has long presented a moral dilemma for vegans seeking to avoid contributing to animal suffering wherever possible. Historically, life-saving treatments like insulin were derived from the pancreases of pigs and cows, a process deeply at odds with vegan ethics. However, the development of synthetic "human" insulin through recombinant DNA technology—produced by genetically engineered bacteria—has made it possible to manage diabetes without involving animal exploitation. This advancement exemplifies how science can align more closely with ethical principles, allowing vegans to access essential medicines without compromising their values. While the broader field of medicine still relies heavily on animal testing, the growing availability of non-animal methods and ethical alternatives is a promising sign that compassionate science is not only possible but already underway.

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