Korean Diabetes J.  2008 Dec;32(6):529-531. 10.4093/kdj.2008.32.6.529.

Maintenance of Insulin Therapy by Desensitization in Insulin Allergy Patient

• Hong JH
• Lee JH
• Shin JH
• Kim DP
• Ko BS
• Kim BJ
• Kim HJ
• Park KS

• KMID: 2222461
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/kdj.2008.32.6.529

Abstract

Allergic reaction to human insulin is uncommon. But they can cause mild to severe symptoms such as dyspnea, hypotensive shock, etc. Here we report the case of a patient with type 2 diabetes and insulin allergy successfully managed with desensitization. A 60-year-old man with insulin allergy was transferred. He had poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (fasting blood glucose 230 mg/dL). He developed itching sense and erythema at the injection sites of human insulin in a few minutes. And serum IgE level was elevated to 1618.0 IU/mL. The insulin was changed to other preparations, including short and long-acting insulin analogues, with similar responses. He was commenced on twice a day injection protocol in addition to his oral hypoglycemic agents, and achieved fair control (fasting blood glucose 100 mg/dL) on 24 units of Novomix Flex Pen per day, with little or no skin or systemic reaction. This is the case report of insulin allergy in type 2 diabetes being successfully managed by desensitization.

Keyword

Allergy; Desensitization; Insulin

MeSH Terms

Blood Glucose
Dyspnea
Erythema
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Hypoglycemic Agents
Immunoglobulin E
Insulin
Insulin, Long-Acting
Middle Aged
Pruritus
Shock
Skin
Blood Glucose
Hypoglycemic Agents
Immunoglobulin E
Insulin
Insulin, Long-Acting

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Skin rash with wheal was seen at the site of insulin (humulin) injection.

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