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Side effects of insulin

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diabetic_tigs

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Lincolnshire
I've been diabetic since I was six and am now 20. Recently my doctor changed my basal insulin from insulatard to lantus. Since moving on to Lantus I've experienced swelling, both at my injection sites and in my face. I was on Lantus approximately three years ago and had the same experience, when I spoke to my consultant he refused to consider the possibility of the insulin causing the swelling, he instead blamed over-eating, which was not true as I hardly ate anything, due to believing that the swelling was weight gain caused by over-eating. I was moved to insulatard after getting DKA three times, but now, although my HBA1C is 7.3% I'm back on Lantus and am worried that I'm going to go through the whole swelling experience again as already my face is "puffing" out. Is this a possible side effect, or is it just coincidence?
 
It's probably Not a co-incidence. It probably isn't the insulin, but one or another of the other components.
 
I had a patient who was allergic to novorapid. She had facial and lip swelling and tingling. Your problem sounds similar.

These reactions are not too common but they certainly do happen. There is no point in the consultant sticking his head in the sand, even when it is rare, YOU are the one with the problem and it needs to be addressed.

It is indeed possible to be allergic to some components of various insulin, but there are other long acting insulins you can try. Alternatives are levemir which is also an analogue insulin and animal insulins such as pork or beef lente insulins.

My patient who was allergic to novorapid got on fine with another short acting analogue humalog.

You can report your reaction via the Yellow Card system.
 
What is the yellow card system?

I was previously put on Levemir and that was a complete disaster, my eyesight became blurred and after a week almost disappeared. So far it seems whichever insulin I go on seems to give some kind of side effect! My consultant has never mentioned animal insulins though, are these as common/readily available?

Thanks for your help!
 
There is a yellow card in the back of every GP's British National Formulary. They are meant to fill it in if anyone has an adverse reaction to any drug, but particularly newer drugs.

The scheme has been extended to allow patients to report adverse events themselves. I think you can get the cards from the pharmacy.

Animal insulins are available in the UK from Wochhardt pharmaceuticals. The GP or consultant can simply write a prescription for them.
 
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