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Allergic to Insulin??

Pmerrill

Active Member
Messages
44
Location
Oxford
Type of diabetes
Type 1.5
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi All,

I've recently started on insulin but only basal at the moment, I inject twice per day 3units each time. A few days after starting on Levemir I came out in a few hives and had really itchy soles of my feet, palms and inner ears. I assumed this was down to the insulin as nothing else in my life had changed. I also get indegestion regularly (feels like trapped wind in my chest) which I've never suffered with before. I stopped taking the insulin for about a week whilst trying to speak to a Dr about it and the reaction went away. After speaking to my DSN and then a Dr they agreed that I should try a different type. So I'm 3 weeks in to using Lantus and whilst the itching is not so bad I still get hives after injection (but a lot more than previous) and the indegestion, so again I suspect there's something I'm allergic to in that as well!!

Has anyone else experienced issues like this?

Look forward to hearing from you (hope I'm not unique)

Thanks in advance

Pete
 
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if you are suspicious if insulin gives you an allergic reaction, you need to be in contact with your GP and diabetic nurse , all kinds of allergy can devellop so it is better to comunicate ones worry as early as possible to health care people so they are there ready at the moment you might need them
 
Thank you Freema, for your advice and the links, I’ll have a look at those later. I don’t think it’s a reaction to being low, but I do wonder if there’s something in the agent used to carry the insulin (if that’s the right terminology).

Thank you again

Pete
 
my skin itched a lot when I initially went both low calories and lower carbs... and while my very high blood glucose went back into a more normal level.. , but I am not on insulin being a type 2 in the early stage
 
Ouch, @Pmerrill ! Not something I've had experience of so no advice to offer I'm afraid - but am sending sympathy.

I seem to remember someone mentioning something like this in the past, and wonder if back then it was @tim2000s who was able to shed some light on it?

 
Your symptoms are in keeping with a true allergy.
I am potentially badly allergic to all insulin due to an ingredient. It took weeks of contact between Consultant, DNS and drug companies and Company pharmacists to come come up with a solution.
I had to be under observation for the first dose, and had prophylactic antihistamines. That was for basal, same thing happened with bolus.
No reaction happened!!! I've only had 1 very small reaction fairy recently. I think I'm fortunate, but with BS mostly in the 30's, felt I had to try it.
I have no real advice to give, just my little story, maybe your GP will suggest antihistamines for you.
Wishing you good fortune.
 
Woah @Snapsy , your memory is better than mine!!! @Pmerrill It might be linked to metacresol which nearly all insulins contain as a preservative. Insuman Infusat is metacresol free, so it might be worth having a chat with the clinic about trying it out to see if it resolves the issue.
 
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Thanks Struma helpful to know I’m not alone.
 

Hi tim2000s, I’ll definitely follow this up with my DSN. Many thanks
 
Yes - I am sure that you are correct - it is often an allergy to phenol or metacresol which are used as preservatives. Years ago, each manufacturer used one or the other so it was easy to swap from one make to the other and fix the problem, I beleive. But now I think they all put both the two preservatives in the insulin.. A case of liaising with the healthcare staff and possibly the insulin manufacturer
best wishes
 
I'm going from memory here. But I don't think either Levemir nor Lantus are identical to human insulin molecules, as suggested above. These of course are long acting insulins. I think that Humulin, a short acting insulin by Lilly, is identical, made by cleaving a couple of things off of animal insulin. After that Lilly made Humulog, a faster/shorter acting version of Humulog but I'm not sure how they changed to molecule to accomplish that difference. I would think that one could inquire and find out what else in included in any insulin product besides the active insulin ingredient, that one may be "allergic" to.
 
Hi I have suffered reactions to all the basal insulin I have tried, not bad enough to be classified as an allergic reaction as they were relatively localised. Lantus caused joint issues, levemir I had reaction around injection sites between egg cup and tennis ball sized, red, itchy, hot etc and lasted 3 days plus so constantly had 6 of them driving me nuts, Insulatard it was like I had flu (without the cold) the whole time. In all cases symptoms caused by the particular type went away with in 24 / 48 hours of swopping between them. So spent a good while swopping from levemir to insulatard every few days as one lot of symptoms got too bad. GP prescribed an antihistamine which helped with levemir issues. I have just gone on to a pump (only a week or so in). It wasn't provided because of the reactions but for other issues, but it is a real bonus I don't need basal insulin anymore, thankfully I have no reaction problems with quick acting insulin.
 

Oh blimey @carog it sounds like you had far worse reactions than me! I hope I can find something that suits me. I hope all goes well with the pump and thanks for sharing your story.

Kind regards

Pete
 
Hi Everyone,

Thanks again for all your input I’ve spoken with my DSN today and then later one of the consultants. I’m going to keep taking Lantus for now unless the reactions get too bad but in the meantime I’m going to be referred to an allergy specialist to find out what it is that I’m allergic to. From there we can then identify more suitable types of insulin (hopefully). Will keep you updated as I learn more.

Thanks again

Kind regards

Pete
 
I am type 2 on insulin the first one I tried made every injection site itch for about 3 days each site so was uncomfortable all the time , I swapped to a different insulin and at first was better but I have to wipe my skin after injecting to stop the itching and they don’t like me doing this. So I will have to talk to my nurse again but as I’m the first person he has seen with a reaction so we’ll see hope we find an an answer

Nicola
 

Sounds similar to me Nicola, keep us updated on your progress. Hope you get a resolution soon.

All the best

Pete
 
Can I use over counter antihistamines, which did doctor prescribe? Find I get tight chest and much more sensitive to virtually everything nowadays? Thanks
 
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