Rarest of rare allergy to Insulin

[Vixonangelica]

I've just had confirmation from immunologist specialist (after undergoing allergy testing in hospital) that I am highly allergic to all Insulins that contain meta cresol which us the preservative in all insulin on the market worldwide. I am apparently the only diabetic in the whole of Australia who has been diagnosed with this allergy. I am now really worried as my diabetic specialist says that I need to start insulin immediately but can't - does anyone on this forum also gave thus allergy and if so is there any insulin produced without meta cresol. Please help as I could die if I don't find an insulin I can use. Thank you

 

[Snodger]

Hi there

Has your doctor not looked up some appropriate insulins for you?
I found this article which may help you.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18186805
You may be able to get access to the whole thing if you are a student or can go to a university library, and your doc should have access.
I'm a student so I accessed it for you and they have a list of insulins and their preservatives. The ones on the table that are m-cresol free are:
shorter acting
Insulin S Berlin-Chemie - a pork insulin that lasts 2-8 hours

longer acting
Monotard - a human insulin that lasts 24 hours
Ultratard - a human insulin that lasts 24 hours
B Insulin S - a pork insulin that lasts 24 hours
Insulin Novo Semilente MC - a pork insulin that lasts 24 hours

 

[phoenix]

Your post sent me on a search so I've put in my steps.
I found these papers.
Successful management of allergy to the insulin
excipient metacresol in a child with type 1 diabetes:
a case report. This said as you have been told said that there are no available insulins without m cresol.
http://www.jmedicalcasereports.com/cont ... -6-263.pdf

I
Successful desensitization with human insulin in a patient with an
insulin allergy and hypersensitivity to protamine:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pd ... -2-283.pdf
This one had a list of insulins and ingredients.
There were 2 that didn't mention m. cresol.
The first Berlinsulin H normal© on further research seems to contain it.
The second Insulin Novo semilente
This has been discontinued but I found a pet diabetes site which suggested that lente, semi lente and ultra lente insulins don't (can't) contain m cresol.
http://petdiabetes.wikia.com/wiki/Preservatives

It also seems that Novo Monotard also dosesn't (didn't) have any: This seems to have been withdrawn in most places but I found mention of it on an Indian site but that maybe out of date.

I then went to the Wockhardt site
http://www.wockhardt.co.uk/products/pro ... ductid=358
I found 2 insulins with no mention of m.cresol. (the others did)

Hypurin® Bovine Lente 100 IU/ml injection
excipients:

Sodium chloride
Sodium acetate
Methylparahydroxybenzoate
Zinc oxide
Water for injections
Hydrochloric acid
Sodium hydroxide

Hypurin® Bovine Protamine Zinc Insulin
excipients

Protamine sulphate
Zinc chloride
Glycerol
Sodium phosphate
Phenol
Water for injections
I wouldn't take this as gospel but it would be worth contacting the company.

 

[Defren]

Oh you poor thing. I wouldn't presume to offer any advise as I know very little about insulin, but I just wanted to wish you luck.

Take care, I hope you find something quickly - Joanna.

 

[noblehead]

How unfortunate to have this allergy, hopefully the information Snodger and Phoenix have given you will give you some hope and relieve.

 

[Vixonangelica]

Thank you all so much for your advice and especially for your research help kn finding insulins with no meta cresol - I will let my specialist know and see what his research has come up with - and hopefully things will start looking up - I got so depressed by all this worry that I out on weight instead of loosing it but now I feel that there might be a resolution I might try once again to go on a low carb diet - so once again thank you for being such great support to me even tho you don't know me from a bar of soap (an Aussie expession !!) - I'm from London (UK) and emigrated to Sydney years ago - still miss England tho ! Thanks again and I will keep you updated xxxxx

 

[Defren]

Thank you all so much for your advice and especially for your research help kn finding insulins with no meta cresol - I will let my specialist know and see what his research has come up with - and hopefully things will start looking up - I got so depressed by all this worry that I out on weight instead of loosing it but now I feel that there might be a resolution I might try once again to go on a low carb diet - so once again thank you for being such great support to me even tho you don't know me from a bar of soap (an Aussie expession !!) - I'm from London (UK) and emigrated to Sydney years ago - still miss England tho ! Thanks again and I will keep you updated xxxxx

Please do. I hope all works out well for you.

 

[shop]

Hope you find something. Good luck.

Lucy xxx

 

[JanAus]

Hi,
I don't think your problem is as rare as is being suggested ...
I also live in AUS (Sydney) and have T1 Diabetes ... on Insulin 40+ years; the lat 11 years on an Insulin Pump.
I have been seeing a Prof of Immunology who says I am alergic to the excipents (additives) in Analogue (Humalog / NovoRapid / Apidra) insulins.
For the last 3 months I have been using Hypurin Neutral Beef insulin as a basal insulin in my Pump, but injecting Novorapid for bolus shots (for Meals) this seems to work because the NovoRapid is not being infused ...
For reasons I don't fully understand the Immunologist seems to think that if I have a break from infusing NovoRapid, I may be able to go back to using it again in my pump.

I belong to another forum for those using Insulin Pumps and self reporting indiactes that 1 in 20 people have a problem with infusing one of the fast acting (Analogue) Insulins. These responses are often referred to as "insulin hypersensitivity" if you read the drug information that comes with Insulin you will see that these issues are listed, so they are known. When the newer analogue insulins were introdued the drug companies believed that no one deveopled allergy problems that were seen with the older insulins..... with time it seems more cases are being identified.....
Hapyy to talk off line if you like, if it helps .
Jan
[email address removed please use PM]

 

[Happylegs73]

I've just had confirmation from immunologist specialist (after undergoing allergy testing in hospital) that I am highly allergic to all Insulins that contain meta cresol which us the preservative in all insulin on the market worldwide. I am apparently the only diabetic in the whole of Australia who has been diagnosed with this allergy. I am now really worried as my diabetic specialist says that I need to start insulin immediately but can't - does anyone on this forum also gave thus allergy and if so is there any insulin produced without meta cresol. Please help as I could die if I don't find an insulin I can use. Thank you

Vixonangelica. You are not on your own in Australia. I was diagnosed with diabetes II last Wednesday. I started Lantus on Thursday and because I am sensitive to additives, preservatives, colours and flavours I had a reaction to it. Within 36 hours I had diarrhea. Also, was flushed in the face. I phoned my doctor and he told me to stop taking it. My sensitivity is does responsive. A little may not make me feel ill, but increased use will cause adverse reactions. So, I'm on the search for preservative free insulin just as you are. I hope we can find a solution.

 

[Happylegs73]

Dose responsive. Sorry.