I Think I'm Allergic To Insulin

[thestrangequark]

Which sucks, being diabetic and all.

Granted, I've not yet seen a endocrinologist (still waiting for that Feb. 10th appointment I made last March), but the symptoms all fit. My lips swell up after some of my shots, I have a generalized, non-pitting edema in the thighs and to a lesser degree, the calves, that worsens after injections -- sometimes it's so bad I can feel the skin stretching, EW! I've also been having a lot of trouble controlling my blood sugars lately, despite putting more effort into the attempt than perhaps I ever have done. I know it's a taboo...and silly...to self-diagnose based on one's own research, but I do tend to be right when I suspect a problem (which is rare, I'm not a hypochondriac). I will, of course, be seeing a doctor and wouldn't presume to feel certain or take any unreasonable actions based on my own un-medical-school-educated hunch, but I won't be surprised if the tests confirm my suspicion.

Right now the symptoms I've described are causing me a fair bit of misery; the constant rising and falling of blood sugar leaves one physically ill and emotional drained all the time. The swelling means that my pants don't fit and I look fresh out of a lip enhancement session half the time. However, should the results come in proving my theory that I am allergic to the substance I must inject on a daily basis to stay alive, then I have to say it's kind of horribly, ironically, funny. Insulin allergy is treatable. When the symptoms go away, I think it'll leave me laughing.

I know it's unlikely -- I know of only two other type 1 diabetics on this board, though I think there are a lot who have type 2 and some of them might be on insulin -- but, does anyone have any experience with insulin allergy?

 

[sojourner]

Nope, no allergy here, but is there a possibility you have some bad insulin there? I have you tried a different vial?

Wait, this has been going on for the better part of the year!?!

Wow, If you've not bothered to seek treatment by now, why not just schedule the funeral?

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

Do you think you can go to the emergency room if it happens again? You can lie and say this is the first time it happened and it scared you. It's not the same as spending time with a doctor, but maybe you can get it confirmed what is causing it. I wouldn't went until February to find out.

 

[thestrangequark]

Nope, no allergy here, but is there a possibility you have some bad insulin there? I have you tried a different vial?

The problems continue with fresh vials.

Wait, this has been going on for the better part of the year!?!

I had one reaction in February, but it was thought to be something else -- specifically, severe edema from over-pushing IV fluids during hospitalization. Since the hospitalization, my sugars have been harder to control than usual (so that's 7 months), but have not been terribly out of control, just not under the pristine control I'm used to. Also, some of that is do to my own behavior -- for the first time of my life, I fell off the wagon and stopped taking as good care as I should have been. This was to do with losing my health insurance combined with a lot of emotional stress and other personal issues. It was stupid, it lasted a few months, and I'm making a huge effort now.
For two months I've been extremely careful, and so have been taking more insulin -- this is when the symptoms really flared up.

Wow, If you've not bothered to seek treatment by now, why not just schedule the funeral?

It's not easy to get treatment when you can't get insurance. Like I said, I made an endocrine appt in March, the next available appt at the city clinic was for almost a year later, this coming February. In the meantime, I saved the money to see a nurse practitioner out of pocket who said that my kidneys are healthy and that my issues sounded like a kind of insulin sensitivity. She also said that whatever is wrong won't kill me, that I should keep trying to get my sugars under better control, and that was about all she could do.

 

[thestrangequark]

Do you think you can go to the emergency room if it happens again? You can lie and say this is the first time it happened and it scared you. It's not the same as spending time with a doctor, but maybe you can get it confirmed what is causing it. I wouldn't went until February to find out.

I can't afford it -- no insurance.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Are there alternatives to using insulin to treat diabetes? I hope you can get in to see a doctor soon.

 

[Australis]

And this is a classic example of why the US needs UHC.

But we'll save that discussion for TNZ...

Hope you work something out soon, tsq

And don't die! We'd miss you here, and you're too pretty and fiesty.

[upchuck]Mmmmmm... fiesty!![/upchuck]

 

[thestrangequark]

^Yeah, I'm hoping for it, and would be whether or not I needed it. It sucks that I can't be insured because I have two whole illnesses. But thanks for the support.

Are there alternatives to using insulin to treat diabetes?

Unfortunately, nope.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

Do you think you can go to the emergency room if it happens again? You can lie and say this is the first time it happened and it scared you. It's not the same as spending time with a doctor, but maybe you can get it confirmed what is causing it. I wouldn't went until February to find out.

I can't afford it -- no insurance.

Wow I am sorry to hear that. Is the clinic you go to city or county based? I am uninsured too, but I guess I am lucky. I go to a county clinic here in Los Angeles County and it only took me about two months to get an appointment. I am sorry to nag you with so many questions and details it's just I have type 2 diabetes and I worry about you that you can't get proper full-time treatment. I hope you can pinpoint exactly what might be causing this. Good luck.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Can you change the brand of insulin? I'm really reaching here but I read something about most allergic reactions to insulin are actually to the preservative in the insulin. Different brands may use different preservatives.

 

[thestrangequark]

Wow I am sorry to hear that. Is the clinic you go to city or county based? I am uninsured too, but I guess I am lucky. I go to a county clinic here in Los Angeles County and it only took me about two months to get an appointment. I am sorry to nag you with so many questions and details it's just I have type 2 diabetes and I worry about you that you can't get proper full-time treatment. I hope you can pinpoint exactly what might be causing this. Good luck.

It's the New York City Hospitals program. I've looked into some other options, but this is the most affordable one. It's not a bad program, once you get to see some one. Thanks for the concern. For the most part, type 1 is pateint controlled. If I wasn't having these current issues I'd really need to see a doctor only to get prescriptions. I just want things to go back to the way they were before.

Can you change the brand of insulin? I'm really reaching here but I read something about most allergic reactions to insulin are actually to the preservative in the insulin. Different brands may use different preservatives.

It's not so much brands as types. There are several different types of insulin -- I take two right now, and when I was first diagnosed (14 years ago), I took two other types. Switching types is one option, so is a process of desensitization, and taking allergy meds like dexamethazone. So, insulin allergy is highly treatable.

Of course, this is presuming that I'm correct and it is indeed an insulin allergy. I just hope it is, because other possibilities seem a lot worse -- and not at all ironic!

 

[Gryffindorian]

tsq, so sorry to hear you're having problems with your insulin use. i have type 2 diabetes but only using metformin for now. i do hope you get it treated as your health depends on it. good luck and i hope you feel better.

 

[John Clark]

Sorry to hear that TSQ. One of my friends has diabetes, but it's diet controlled so I have little advice to offer.

Hope you manage to get it sorted.

 

[thestrangequark]

^Yeah, that'll be type 2 diabetes -- a whole other beast.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I can't say that I've seen many cases of insulin allergy before, but it is a recognised problem, and I hope your problem is resolved quickly, tsq. If it does turn out to be an allergy, there are some specialists in allergy medicine who can offer desensitisation programmes, which help in other forms of allergy too.

 

[captcalhoun]

good luck and stay healthy!

 

[Count Zero]

Wow, I'm sorry to hear what terrible situation you are in. I can't believe you have to wait almost a year for your appointment. What kind of stupid system is that?
I hope everything will work out for you, and soon.

 

[T'Baio]

I've never had to deal with an insulin allergy. I'm just waiting for the wonderful day when the insulin no longer works.

Good luck getting it all sorted out, tsq. Cheers.

 

[thestrangequark]

I've never had to deal with an insulin allergy. I'm just waiting for the wonderful day when the insulin no longer works.

Well, I assume the doctors told you what they told me and every other type 1 diabetic upon diagnosis, that "we're only 10 years away from a cure." (It's a standard line no matter when one is diagnosed -- for me, 14 years ago, for my friend Ethan 25 years ago...)

But hey, we might get lucky and get the cure before we have to worry about developing type 2 on top of type 1.

Good luck getting it all sorted out, tsq. Cheers.

Thanks.

It's frustrating, though. My body seems to be completely changing how it reacts to insulin. Two months ago I was taking 12 units a day combined and still suffering regular lows. Now I've had a sudden switch to the opposite: my blood sugars are spiking with no apparent explanation!

 

[T'Baio]

You mean it's not gonna' be cured in four years!?! Arrrgh!

I hate to sound like a conspiracy guy, but I honestly don't believe a cure will come anytime soon, if at all. There are multi-billion dollar corporate empires that exist solely on the production and supply of diabetic care. They're not gonna' let anyone put them out of business.

Besides, our disease is considered "manageable."