Successful dual desensitization with biphasic isophane insulin (mixtard® 30)‎ for insulin allergy in a diabetic patient : case report

Abstract EN

A 41-year-old Saudi woman has non insulin-dependent diabetes which was not controlled on diet, exercise or maximum oral hypoglycemic agents.

After three months of starting a mixture of human insulin (isophane plus regular as 70/30) and six months of subcutaneous biphasic isophane insulin (30 % soluble, 70 % isophane) (Mixtard® 30), she developed a reaction immediately after the injections in the form of nausea, vomiting, dizziness and urticarial skin rash with itch.

To confirm the diagnosis of allergy to insulin, allergy skin tests demonstrated negative reactions on skin prick test but positive reactions on intradermal test using extracts from common types of insulin.

In order to treat her allergy to insulin, a dual desensitization using biphasic isophane insulin (Mixtard® 30) was carried out successfully.

To our knowledge this is the first case report of desensitization with this insulin mixture in the literature.