No question about that Insulin works, the problem is the expansion of the stomach, would be nice if on of this BB nutrition manufacturing company's would put up $$$$$$$ to conduct a controlled studie on bb-ers and use of Insulin.
This is one part of a case study that I posted awhile ago and refer back to every so often.........
Polypharmacy
Drug use by AAS users is not limited to anabolic steroids. More than 95% of AAS users admit to taking a mix of muscle-shaping drugs and accessory medications ( Table 7 ) in addition to "stacking" different types of steroids. Accessory drugs are used for a variety of reasons, such as adjuvant anabolic effects, stimulants, fat loss, and medications to combat the side effects of AAS.
Compared with previous surveys, the proportion of AAS users taking GH and insulin as adjuvant anabolic agents has increased. In a 1997 survey, 12% of steroid users reported using GH, and 2% had used insulin.[9] A striking observation from the current study is that 25% of the steroid users admit to the unsupervised use of both GH and insulin. The anabolic effects of GH on target tissues are not direct, but are the result of increased production of IGF-1 in the liver and peripheral tissues.[25] Nearly 10% of AAS users surveyed report using recombinant injectable IGF-1 preparations in their anabolic arsenal. The prevalence of IGF-1 use has not been previously documented among AAS users. In addition to the effects mediated by IGF-1, GH is a powerful stimulant of lipolysis in central and peripheral adipose cells.[12] Whereas the true effectiveness of GH as a potent anabolic substance remains in question, powerful nutrient-partitioning and fat-loss properties have been documented.[25] Long-term GH administration in normal individuals may lead to cardiac instability, hypertension, development of insulin resistance, and possibly type 2 diabetes.[25]
Unsupervised insulin regimens reported by AAS users in this study typically consisted of a fast-acting insulin (Humulin R, Humalog) formulation self-administered after a postworkout meal. Some users report using a glucometer to minimize their risk of unwanted hypoglycemic events. The anabolic effect of insulin is manifest by an artificially induced hyperinsulinemic state that increases amino acid transport into muscles inhibiting protein breakdown and stimulating overall bulk protein synthesis when in the presence of concomitant hyperaminoacidemia.[2]
The reported use of thermogenic stimulants like ephedrine, caffeine, and clenbuterol is similar to that found by a previous survey;[9] however, the use of thyroid medications to aid in fat loss has risen from 2% to more than 45%. The use of yohimbine and dinitrophenol (DNP) has not previously been documented in AAS users. Yohimbine is an α2-adrenergic receptor blocker that indirectly increases epinephrine and norepinephrine levels and functions as a fat-loss agent. DNP is a powerful uncoupling agent of oxidative metabolism that functions by inhibiting the oxidative production of adenosine triphosphate, causing a substantial increase in metabolic activity and heat production. This drastic increase in metabolic activity and heat production has led to hyperthermia and death with overdose of DNP.[18]
Accessory medications are also taken to alleviate AAS-induced side effects. Almost 100% of AAS users in our study complained of one or more side effects, and more than 95% reported taking medications to treat these effects. More than half of the participants noted taking clomiphene, antiaromatases, and tamoxifen, with nearly 40% using human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Clomiphene and HCG are commonly used to reverse the endogenous testosterone suppression experienced by users, in an effort to "kick start" natural hormone production at the end of a steroid cycle and reverse testicular atrophy. Tamoxifen and antiaromatase medications block or alleviate the symptoms of gynecomastia that result from the aromatization of testosterone to estrogen. Antiaromatases are also used to alleviate the inevitable fluid retention of heavy androgen use.
It is noteworthy that some of these "accessory" drugs are potentially much more dangerous than AAS. The unsupervised use of insulin, diuretics, stimulants, and thyroxine can precipitate a number of medical emergencies.[8] Little if any information exists with regards to the myriad of possible interactions and increased health risks of these polypharmaceutical practices. During the evaluation of a known or suspected steroid user, it is of paramount importance that the physician take a detailed drug history, keeping in mind the widespread use of these accessory medications.
Health Issues
Despite evidence that AAS users are taking increasing health risks with respect to drug megadoses, accessory medications, unsafe injection practices, and illicit drug sources, 6 out of 10 (61.4%) of steroid users surveyed indicated that they were concerned about the potential health ill effects of their AAS use. Although this may seem somewhat contradictory, it is supported by the observation that a similar proportion (64.4%) of steroid users undergo routine health checks and/or laboratory screenings. Only 37% of those surveyed, however, report discussing their AAS use with a physician. This barrier to communication between AAS users and their physicians may exist for several reasons, such as fear of legal consequences, the stigma of illegal drug use, and a perceived lack of physician knowledge regarding AAS. Nevertheless, more than 90% of steroid users surveyed noted that they would prefer to use AAS legally and under the supervision of a knowledgeable physician. It is possible that medically supervised AAS use could deter some of the emerging dangerous trends of unsupervised AAS use and possibly decrease the likelihood of preventable health complications.
