3:37am
Child F's blood test result from the laboratory, as shown earlier to the court today, is presented to Professor Hindmarsh. The sample was taken at 5.56pm on August 5 and collected at the Liverpool laboratory at 4.15pm on August 6.
He says the insulin reading should be in proportion to the insulin C-Peptide reading, and should be several times higher in this context.
3:41am
Prof Hindmarsh explains to the court the dangers of prolonged low blood sugar in the body, which can lead to damage to the brain.
Breakdown of fats can be used as a temporary measure, as a substitute.
The problem, he says, is if the low blood sugar is caused by excess insulin.
The insulin will 'switch off' key body formation.
He says the brain would be in a "very, very susceptible state to receiving damage".
That depends on the depth and length of the hypoglycaemia episode.
An equivalent reading of 2.3 or so would lead to 'confusion' and difficulties reading/writing.
Professor Hindmarsh says lower readings than that could lead to seizures, death of brain cells, coma, and in some cases, death.
3:47am
Professor Hindmarsh added, in his report, the insulin used in the hospital, has been used in the past 20-25 years, and is synthetic insulin.
Stocks of pig/cow insulin would not be held as regular stock or in a pharmacy. They would have to be requested.
The two types of synthetic insulin are fast-acting - ones that work within 30 minutes, applied via an injection, the effectiveness lasting 4-6 hours. The other type is long-acting, which lasts up to 12-24 hours.
The second type of insulin, he explains, is not generally used for intravenous infusions, and he has never seen any evidence of that having been done.
3:50am
Professor Hindmarsh is shown a 10ml bottle of insulin, which normally comes with an orange, self-sealing cap.
To extract the liquid from the bottle, to administer 'therapeutically', a medical professional would have to use a syringe, the court hears.
Mr Johnson says by 'therapeutically', Professor Hindmarsh means 'legitimately'. Professor Hindmarsh agrees, and says the dose would have to be measured out carefully.
3:52am
The insulin bottle exhibit is shown to members of the jury and the defence.
The trial of Lucy Letby, who denies murdering seven babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital neonatal unit and attempting to murder 10 more,…
www.chesterstandard.co.uk
I am in California, the sun will be up in a few hours...better get to sleep...The link is above if someone wants to copy/paste the next portion. I think they are on a break right now...
