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allergy to insulin? Intolerance for medications?

P

patcor

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
I was diagnosed with LADA type 1 over 5 years ago. I am very chemically sensitive and do not tolerate medication well. Early this year I went through a lot of allergy testing and found that I am allergic to glycerin and glycerol. Glycerol is in virtually every longer lasting (basal) insulin, and Glycerin is in all mealtime (short acting) insulins. I have tried every brand, and feel sick on all of them--headache, negatively affects by breathing, post-nasal drip. The allergist tried desensitization, it didn't work, or didn't work enough. I've even tried the newer concentrated form of Insulin Glargine (Toujeo) and Humalin R U-500. These seemed like they might be the answer because you only get 1/3 (for Toujeo) or 20% (Humalin u-500) of glycerol or glycerin for the same amount of insulin, but I still have a constant, intense headache.. I have tried experiment after experiment for the last 6+ years, nothing works, and the doctors don't know what to do either. I'm told I "must" have the drug, and need to figure out how to tolerate the side effects. Anyone else have this problem, or find a solution?
 
Cant help with your problem, but maybe you are going to have to be restrictive with your diet. E.g. going keto, where you get your bodies needs from fat. Its not really hard to do, and before insulin was invented it was the only way they could treat diabetics.
Read Dr Bernstein for more info. The other thing is though I will be corrected on this - isn't there an animal insulin.
 
I have major problems with the additives in insulin's and the only two I can tolerate are Bovine neutral and Isophane.
Have your team tried you with a pump so minute amounts can be delivered to try and desensitise you?
 
Another thing to try might be for your doctors to get in touch with researchers and/or companies who supply insulin. If they won't play ball you could try emailing them yourself. There might be a small number of other people in the world who have this problem, and maybe there is a way to supply insulin without these ingredients. Do you know what the ingredients do in the insulin, eg are they emulsifiers, or preservatives or something?
 
CarbsRok said:
I have major problems with the additives in insulin's and the only two I can tolerate are Bovine neutral and Isophane.
Have your team tried you with a pump so minute amounts can be delivered to try and desensitise you?
Click to expand...
I tried the whole desensitization route with the allergist. Months and months of many appointments, and it didn't work for me. They say if I had an anaphylactic (sp?) reaction that desensitization works, but the chemical sensitivity/allergy is a lot harder. I can't use a pump because the adhesive used to hold it on your body makes me break out. I will look up the additives in the insulins you mention. I am in the US, and I know insulin formulations can vary country to country. Thank you
 
dawnmc said:
Cant help with your problem, but maybe you are going to have to be restrictive with your diet. E.g. going keto, where you get your bodies needs from fat. Its not really hard to do, and before insulin was invented it was the only way they could treat diabetics.
Read Dr Bernstein for more info. The other thing is though I will be corrected on this - isn't there an animal insulin.
Click to expand...
I am on a very carb restricted diet. It controls blood sugar better than if I'm not on it, but diet alone is not enough to control my numbers
 
I think there are a couple of forum members who use animal insulin. @CarbsRok for some reason I think you may be one - can you help?(apologies if my memory is playing tricks as it often does!!!). Sue xxxx
 
patcor said:
I tried the whole desensitization route with the allergist. Months and months of many appointments, and it didn't work for me. They say if I had an anaphylactic (sp?) reaction that desensitization works, but the chemical sensitivity/allergy is a lot harder. I can't use a pump because the adhesive used to hold it on your body makes me break out. I will look up the additives in the insulins you mention. I am in the US, and I know insulin formulations can vary country to country. Thank you
Click to expand...
I know animal insulin's are not available in the USA so think people either get them in Canada or import from the firm in the UK that produces it. Bovine neutral was the best bet for me as had least additives in it.
 
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