Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jen on August 18, 2011 at 12:35am

I would get a referral to an allergist so you can ask them. I don't know if there's any kind of test for an insulin allergy, but there might be. Personally, I would think a drug allergy would have more severe symptoms than what you describe, but who knows.

Also, you can develop allergies at any age, so it's possible you've developed allergies to pollen, grass, dust, etc. even if you never had them before. I didn't have any allergies growing up other than one severe food allergy, and all of a sudden when I was 24 I developed TONS of allergies to pollen, grass, weeds, mold, dust, dust mites, animal dander, and probably some other things I'm forgetting. They have been getting worse every year, too. They are year-round (though spring and fall are definitely worse than summer and winter) and cause similar symptoms to what you describe—stuffed up, sneezing, itchy nose/throat/ears, itchy/red/puffy/watery eyes, coughing, sometimes even hives if I've touched something I'm allergic to.

Good luck figuring it out. Hopefully it's not insulin, as that would be a really inconvenient allergy to have!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Trisha01 on August 18, 2011 at 1:28am

On one my other forum(s), we did have a Type 1 who became allergic to insulin. We never did learn the outcome, though, as the person hasn't been around for quite some time. Call your doctor in the morning, just to be on the safe side. Don't take any chances, get it checked out.

Stress can also cause some of those symptoms, BTDT when going through a nasty divorce a long time ago.

Jen is correct on the allergies can hit at any time. I have some of those that she has.

Trisha

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MyBustedPancreas on August 18, 2011 at 4:09am

Get to the doctor immediately. Waiting until mid-November is not an option (IMO). Tell the doctor's office this is pretty much an emergency, because you can't keep taking your insulin and having this happen. There are additives in insulins that can cause allergic reactions, and sometimes those reactions can get progressively worse over time.

Have you tried taking a benadryl and seeing if the symptoms go away?

Also, I know some people report odd symptoms when they first get their Bgs under control, but to me it sounds like you're having more of an allergic reaction.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brian (bsc) on August 18, 2011 at 5:32am

I have to tell you, allergies tend to occur in proportion to the allergen. You are describing a condition that is proportional to blood sugar, as though you are allergic to low blood sugars.

That being said, you can be allergic to insulins, but the condition is rare. The basic symptoms are:

Red welts
Rash
Rapid swelling under the skin and mucus tissues
Drop in blood pressure
Shortness of breath

In a mild allergic reaction, the symptoms (like rash and welts) will be localized (at the injection site). A body wide response (Anaphylaxis) is a much more severe and additional symptoms may include

Flushing
Swelling of the lips, tongue and throat
Wheezing and constriction of breathing.
Diarrhea and vomiting
Heart racing and heart spasms
Overall nervous response
Lightheadedness, loss in conciousness

It certainly is worth checking whether you have an allergic reaction. There are some tests that can be done to confirm a reaction. But I would suggest that you probably don't have an allergic reaction, this is about your body adjusting to tighter control.

What you may have is something called "Insulin Edema." This occurs in newly diagnosed or poorly controlled patients after starting intensive insulin therapy. There are some that suggest this occurs because of an imbalance in electrolytes. Insulin edema is often a complication of treatment for DKA, which involves intensive insulin treatment and substantial reductions in blood sugar. If it is insulin edema, it should improve within days or a couple of weeks, but it would be prudent to see your doctor and discuss the problem. One treatment that has been used in the past is diuretics.

And never trust advice from someone with a goofy face like mine, do check with your doctor.

ps. I am sure you will be fine.

pps. And I am really proud of you for taking the steps to get better control.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Captain on August 18, 2011 at 8:33am

Thanks so much everyone for your input! I'ts really good to know that I have somewhere to turn to for answers!

I called my doctor this morning. She is out of town now, but I have basically demanded an appointment ASAP, and got one for the 26th. Since she is out of town, I spoke briefly with another doctor in the office, and she told me to stop the Apidra and switched me over to Humalog, saying that it could absolutely be the insulin. I spoke to her around 8am this morning, and she didn't mention the insulin edema issue, but I think I'm going to call her back about it right now! In the mean time! I have a prescription for Hydroclorothiazide, but my swelling issue is steadily getting worse, and someone suggested to me that I get a prescription for Lasix. I'll be talking to the doctor about that, as well. In a way, I hope that IS the issue, because an allergy to actual insulin would be HORRIBLE.

In the event that this is an edema problem, are there any immediate actions I can take? How long is too long for this to last?

Once again, thanks everyone so much!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Captain on August 18, 2011 at 8:49am

I'm seeing an Endo. (what's a PCP?) Is pitting when you press down and there's an indentation of your fingers on your skin? Because.... that's what I have going on in my legs right now. I don't have hives, I'm not itching other than my eyes and my ears, but I do not have any problems with my injection sites!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Captain on August 18, 2011 at 9:14am

Wow, thanks for this info. Both you and BSC! This has put my mind at ease, as I'm pretty sure this is what I have. I have been tested for allergies, which is why this came as a surprise for me!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Trisha01 on August 18, 2011 at 9:22am

Captain,

Be careful with the Hydroclorothiazide. According to the insert that comes with mine, it *can* raise blood glucose levels. It does for me sometimes. It *can* lower your K (potassium). It has screwed with my electolytes, and did have to be decreased in dosage. It *can* lower GFR (glomerular filtration rate). It has lowered mine some, but not enough to change my stage level.

If there is any swelling about the eyes - call them STAT (=right now!); and if especially of mouth or throat - call 911 STAT or have someone take you to ER. Also, be sure to ask the doc what immediate measures to take.

Trisha

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Captain on August 19, 2011 at 6:17pm

Lynne- I've had excellent bloodsugar for the last week or so, so I don't think I'm dehydrated anymore. I've been making sure to drink lots of water. Honestly I'd just as much not take a water pill if it wasn't so uncomfortable, but I have a full time job in which I am on my feet 8 or more hours a day, 5 days a week! By the middle of my work day, my feet/ankles look like balloons, and HURT. I'm afraid if I don't do something about the swelling until my body adjusts, it'll damage my joints again. Again, I'll be discussing all of this with my doc. She has told me to call her every day until the appointment so I can keep her updated. This far I've had no anaphylactic symptoms, so I'm really thinking my problem is the edema. It would make sense, since I'm at 11.something, and I used to binge on candy all the time!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Captain on August 19, 2011 at 6:12pm

It was actually my old endo from years ago that gave me the Hydrochlorothiazide, saying that it had the LEAST chance of screwing with my diabetes. Being that this guy is supposedly a huge leader in diabetes research (Dr. Jay Skylar) I trusted that it was ok. BUT, now that this has been brought to my attention, I'll be discussing it with my current doctor!

Trisha- I have had swelling around my eyes. In fact my entire face/body is all swollen, including my sinuses. However I have not had any trouble breathing, and I have not felt that my mouth, tongue, or throat is swollen at all. In my eyes it's mainly my eyelids, and this is when I wake up. It tends to go down a bit once I'm up and awake for a while. Is this still something I should be more concerned about? Does it pose a greater threat?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Trisha01 on August 19, 2011 at 9:49pm

Captain,

I would think, that the mouth and throat carry the greatest risk, as that will affect your breathing. When my eyes swelled almost entirely shut, it was due to the stress from that nasty divorce. But I did have hives everywhere, which was also stress induced. (p.s. This is not related, to what I wrote below, about my eyes swelling.) It's obvious to me, that you have some sort of allergy going on, but I'm not a doctor. (just a retired trauma radiographer - not even close to a doctor!)

Just by chance, have you started a new or different brand of eye makeup? There was one morning, that I started a new eyeliner pencil. By the time I had gotten to work, my eyes were almost swelled shut. The ER doc took one look at me, wrote a script and made me go to our pharmacy to get if filled right then. I had to chew 2 of the allergy pills, before the pharmacy let me go back upstairs. Once the swelling went down enough so I could drive, the ER doc sent me home for the day. Needless to say, that new eyeliner pencil went into the trash. You do know, I hope, that eye makeup needs to be started fresh every 3 months? I'm told that is because bacteria can build up on it, especially with mascara.

Another thought....new face powder, powder puff, liquid makeup, new jewelry, new eyeglass frames?

Any new animals, clothes, furniture, PILLOWS, (just saw the part of when you wake up) etc.?

What are you eating differently, if anything at all? My gut feeling says it could be something with the food. I just can't pinpoint the why of it.

I agree with BSC, on running your numbers higher for a bit, until you get this straightened out, and also about not doing any diuretics -other than what the doc has told you to do. The Hydroclorothiazide is a diuretic.

I think that we will all be relieved once you get this straightened out, and find what the cause is.

Trisha

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Captain on August 20, 2011 at 1:41pm

I thought of some of those things, too! But after monitoring everything I was doing and everything I did for the last couple days, I came up with nothing. I use the same make up, and I use it up before 3 months is up. Really Ive done nothing different, which is why I'm so frustrated. I AM, however, allergic to most preservatives in food, which is why I think now that maybe this could be a combo of an allergy to a preservative in the insulin, AND insulin edema, because of going from steady 500+ bloodsugars for years, and then suddenly having 4 straight days of counts in the low 100's! Today I've kept them around 150-190, hoping that the swelling will go down.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page