The scent of a diabetic
Those who know me well, know that I can spend a long time struggling to find the right word.
I just changed my reservoir, and realized that while I would know that distinctive insulin smell ANYWHERE, I can not think of words to describe it. So - no cheating - don't read other people's comments first - how would you describe that unique fragrance? You don't have to be a PWD to answer this - family members and health care folks (mermaid!) are welcome too!
P.S. Thanks for the resume suggestions!
I just changed my reservoir, and realized that while I would know that distinctive insulin smell ANYWHERE, I can not think of words to describe it. So - no cheating - don't read other people's comments first - how would you describe that unique fragrance? You don't have to be a PWD to answer this - family members and health care folks (mermaid!) are welcome too!
P.S. Thanks for the resume suggestions!
posted by art-sweet at 1:45 PM
43 Comments:
IMHO- I think it has the clinical smell you find in a hospital or nursing home only fresher. So in one word...clinicky?
I think pungent. Like something burning, maybe plastic.
Ugh, I hate the smell--I generally says it has a funky tang.
My husband can't seem to smell it, I on the other hand can tell in a second when he's dropped ANOTHER insulun bottle (even after he thinks he cleaned it up so well!). Good luck on the job front!
I a most reminded of sticking your nose in a box of band-aids....
A band aid, hands down.
Elastoplast!
band aids
metal mixed with band-aids.
Is it sad that I actually had to sniff my pump? LOL
Oh, and don't EVER drop and break a bottle.
I didn't even read down and I got band-aids!!
Ok, so I'm in desperate need of some excitement. :)
Like metal. It's the zinc they use as a ?preservative for the insulin, I think.
Oh, that's tough.
That redolent substance is surely unmistakable, though I don't have a good recall for such sensory things.
I've actually just closed my office door, disconnected from my pump and delivered a fixed prime to check it again (how wasteful, I know).
I can't really pin a word on it, either. Kinda like a strong anti-septic of some sort mixed with a mint scent, though certainly not pleasant.
And it tastes even worse than it smells (Don't ask. I have no idea how I ever ended up with some in my mouth before, but it has left a serious impression).
The sharply sweet smell of life or insulodorous?
Two words: Dentist's office.
I've had confirmation from family members, friends, fellow diabetics, and every boyfriend I've ever had.
Oh, and from my dentist, too.
Funny, Kerri, that our resident dentist doesn't share your opinion...
I am stunned by all the bandaid opinions. I have never smelt any similarity between insulin and bandaids.
I think it's the old kind of band aid. They smelled different when I was little. Or maybe my nose worked differently then.
You have a resident dentist? Pili? I suppose she helps you keep up with your flossing...
Art, thanks for your comment on my blog the other day. I would love to meet you anytime.
Well, not anytime. But at many possible times. You know what I mean. Feel free to mail me.
A mixture of nailpolish remover, turpentine, oil of clove and yeah, the dentist's office
I don't recall smelling it to be honest! I only use pretty large amounts of it at a time too, so you'd think that I would recall, but the only kind we use where I work is Actrapid so maybe that one in particular doesn't smell strong? We draw up 50 units at a time into a 50 ml syringe with saline to run as an infusion with hourly BSL's on a big infusion pump thing. Those poor little bleedy fingers on the patients!
Hospitals come to mind at first. But I can see the band-aid reference. I am remined of a particular one - the one that really sticks to your skin, more material than plastic? But hospitals, and sick people definitely...
Band-aids. The stuff smells like Band-aids. Now let me see if anyone else said that, too.
Another vote for band-aid.
A STRONG rubbing alcohol smell. Very hard to describe. ok maybe not rubbing alcohol but something. Hmm I can't put my finger on it.
STRONG!!!
Band-aids. That's what it smells like to me.
And I didn't read ahead.
Without looking at anyone elses suggestions: my guess of what insulin smells like is rubbing alchol mixed with "hospital smell".
To me it smells like old people.
It's funny because I'm always asking people if they smell me. Everyone always says no, but I can smell it.
-Stella
Like old stinky medical tape the plastic kind.... you bought it like 15 years ago at the dime store (which doesn't even exist anymore) and now you are trying to use it to put on a bandage...ick stinky!
Burning bandaids is what I always think of. Not that I have ever burnt a bandaid.
Band-Aids
Not the generic brand
Band-Aid Band-Aids
Both David and I agree.
And, no I did not read ahead :)
bandaids. definitely. my friends think so too. and i promise i had that in mind before i read the other comments.
I once broke a vial of insulin all over our tabel and my automatic thought was that it smelled like per
Seriously, I have to say Chloraseptic spray! Try spraying that in your mouth then smell the insulin again, dead on , almost as if they are the same thing...
Insuline itself does not smell. It is meta-cresol (a solvent used to dissolve other chemicals in water) that has a 'medicinal' smell when it is dissolved in water. This chemical is also present in tar and crude oil, so the people who said it smelled like tar... By the way; not all insulines use meta-cresol. e.g. Isuhuman by Aventis (formaly Hoeghst)does not have this 'funky tang'.
It smells like band aids. I've thought that from day one!
I think the smell is weirdly satisfying when i draw it up for patients. I think I would learn to hate it if I had to inject myself everyday.
I agree with the bandaids odor but associate it more with the smell of metal box they used to come in.
Call me crazy, but it smells a lot like Scotch whiskey, specifically Johnnie Walker Red Label and Ardbeg 10.
It smells like camphor, to me. It's very distinctive. I can't quite place it, but camphor is the closest I get.
YES!!! I told my former endocrinologist that I always knew when my sister had just injected while she had gestational diabetes - I would walk in the room and smell that smell and start retching; my doctor looked at me like I was insane and insisted that "insulin has no smell." It's definitely an acrid, chemical, medicinal odor. It must be from the meta-cresol or one of the other inactive ingredients in insulin preparations. I'll be starting insulin therapy soon and I'm not looking forward to it. I just hope the smell doesn't translate into a taste in the back of the throat like some other injectable drugs produce (like demerol). Here's another funny: I've had examinations at two different bowel clinics, and both offices smelled like raw pumpkin. I've never been able to figure that one out.
The first endocrinologist I ever saw (and switched to a new one right away) claimed that insulin has no odour. Liar! Insulin itself may have no odour, but the preservative used in insulin does. The main culprit is m-CRESOL, which stinks and can cause dermal irritation. Look it up, but don't freak out too much when you read about its other medical and industrial applications. I find that using a flavour extract (vanilla, almond, kola) rubbed on the skin after an injection really helps. I used to get dry heaves in response to the smell.
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Chloraseptic or campho-phenique
Let me tell you something. I have Asperger's Syndrome and used to have an incredibly acute sense of smell. I always thought type I diabetics smelled like band-aids, but I had no idea why. I thought it might have something to do with the insulin but I've never actually smelled a vial of insulin. Apparently though, the preservative in insulin is also used in band-aids. It's trippy that my sense of smell was so dead on.
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I second this. I have a diabetic cat and he moved one time during injection. Some got on his fur and IMMEDIATELY, I was like "Holy cow, this smells identical to Campho-Phenique!". I can't believe this hasn't been mentioned more often.
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