title: Non-diabetic clinical applications of insulin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Introducing a new drug to the market is a time-consuming process, is complex, and involves consumption of a lot of resources. Therefore, discovering new uses for the old drugs (i.e. drug repurposing) benefits the patients by providing them time-tested drugs. With developments in insulin therapy still happening, it is worth keeping up to date on trends in the use of this powerful glucose-lowering agent. The aim of this article is to explore the potential non-diabetic clinical applications of insulin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature survey was carried out through the various scientific journals publishing experimental and clinical research papers regarding the diverse applications of insulin other than in diabetes mellitus. These applications include both therapeutic as well as diagnostic uses of insulin. The relevant information collected from these publications was paraphrased in the present paper.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On studying the literature, the non-diabetic uses of insulin include the following: wound healing, parenteral nutrition, antiaging, body building, cardioprotection in acute coronary syndromes, insulin tolerance test to test the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning, cell culture, cancer treatment, organ preservation, and management of septic shock, calcium channel, β-blocker overdose and other critical illnesses in intensive care units.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review attempts to survey some interesting new applications of insulin other than in diabetes mellitus.
authors.forename: Jyoti M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Benni
authors.forename: Paragouda A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Patil
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin