Insulin Potentiation Therapy

Insulin potentiation therapy (IPT) is an experimental treatment for chemotherapy symptoms. There’s no scientific proof that IPT is an effective treatment for cancer. People who receive IPT do so at their own risk. Chemotherapy is a proven treatment for cancer, but causes many side effects. Researchers are always looking for ways to minimize the negative side effects of repeated rounds of chemo. The developers of IPT argue that it can be used as an “adjunct” when managing chronic diseases. They say insulin naturally makes cell membranes more permeable.

This is because cancer cells have more insulin receptors than normal cells. When insulin is released into the bloodstream in response to a change in blood sugar levels, the insulin attaches to these cells and allow nutrients to enter the cell.

When the excess insulin receptors on cancer cells are activated, it’s theoretically easier to specifically target them for treatment. The theory is that when using it with chemotherapy, insulin makes the medication more effective. As a result, it’s argued that IPT targets cancer cells and requires less chemotherapy to get the same results. Less chemo drugs, then, mean fewer or less severe side effects.

Apart from the lack of scientific or clinical evidence endorsing IPT, this treatment does carry a known set of risks.

I have not personally tried IPT. As with any treatment options, you should research all of the details and risks for yourself and make your treatment decisions carefully.

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