Ever since Eli Lilly won the race to mass produce human insulin in 1982, dangerous preservatives such as m-cresol have been used in their formulations. Today, despite well documented evidence of their health hazards, the concentrations of such preservatives are the highest in the history of insulin preparations.

Insulin preservatives tend to shy away from the spotlight, even though they account for nearly as much as the insuliln analogue per milliliter. Historically, insulin preparations didn't have nearly as much preservative concentrations as they do today, but their levels have been silently creeping up.

Toxicity of m-cresol

Also known as meta-cresol and 3-methylphenol, m-cresol is a methyl substituted phenol used to stabilize protein formulations such as insulin and other pharmaceutical injectables. It's also used in herbicides, insecticides, fumigants, industrial solvents and even explosives.

Its levels of toxicity are well documented throughout medical and health hazard literature. It is a high volume chemical by production and more hazardous than most chemicals in more than one ranking system.

M-cresol is a recognized toxin to the kidneys, skin, liver, blood, respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and central nervous systems. It is also a known carcinogen having the potential to develop tumors after several years of exposure, especially in the iris.

Since many toxic chemicals, even at low concentrations exhibit a latency period (sometimes several decades) between exposure and incidence of cancer, prolonged exposure is detrimental to human health by any measureable standard.

No long-term studies on the effects of m-cresol have ever been completed on humans, but the outcome of short-term studies have clearly shown the dangers associated with this toxin..

The pollution information site, TOXMAP Chemical Page, and various material safety datasheets such as those from sciencelab.com and EPA all outline the health hazards of m-cresol.

Integration of m-cresol in Insulin

Each milliliter of Eli Lilly Humalog injection contains insulin lispro 100 units, 16 mg glycerin, 1.88 mg dibasic sodium phosphate, 3.15 mg m-Cresol, zinc oxide content adjusted to provide 0.0197 mg zinc ion, trace amounts of phenol, and Water for Injection.

If you review Eli Lilly's material safety data sheet from 1995, the insulin preparations back then maintained an m-cresol percentage of 0.22 or less. This was equivalent to about half (on the top end) of the amount of insulin used in mixture. The concentrations of m-cresol that are being integrated in current formulations are almost equivalent to the amount of insulin itself.

Any percentage of m-cresol may have adverse health effects. Diluting a toxic chemical into an injectable mixture simply reduces its concentration, but it does not reduce its toxic nature. Daily injections of m-cresol (even at negligible concentrations) for months and years on end will certainly not maintain or advance human health. It will slowly destroy it by mutating cells and by gradually supressing the immune system.

Why Eli Lilly is not interested in health

There does not appear to be any direct health benefit by increasing m-cresol concentrations in insulin preparations. In fact, the incremental increase of m-cresol and other preservatives over the years appear to be almost malicious in nature, completely disregarding the health and wellness of tens of millions of diabetics.

More than one journalist has uncovered corrupt connections between political forces and Eli Lilly. They were engaged in a decade-long effort to play down the health risks of their top-selling medication, the schizophrenia drug Zyprexa. Lilly executives kept important information from doctors about Zyprexa's links to obesity and elevated blood sugar, risk factors for diabetes. Since Lilly's insulin treatment products are some of their largest sources of profit, an obvious bias existed.

Lilly agreed in 2005 to pay $750 million to settle suits by 8,000 people who claimed they developed diabetes or other medical problems after taking the drug. It soon became apparent that Lilly was primarily interested in increasing diabetic populations so they could sell more insulin.

There's nothing like a schizophrenic diabetic to increase sales.

Bottom Line

Eli Lilly cannot be trusted. They have shown an obvious disregard for human health in exchange for profits. Their ties with political juggernauts have exposed the devious nature and intentions of their mandate.

This author strongly suggests that the increased levels of m-cresol currently being touted as "safe" by Eli Lilly in insulin preparations are a long-term death sentence for all diabetics injecting this poison. It would be wise to seek alternative pharmaceutical or natural formulations to control blood sugar, or suffer potentially serious consequences to your future health.

Marco Torres is a research specialist, writer and consumer advocate for healthy lifestyles. He holds degrees in Public Health and Environmental Science and is a professional speaker on topics such as disease prevention, environmental toxins and health policy.