Immunologic insulin resistance is an entity recognized in the clinical practice for many years. Its pathogenesis is related to the presence of anti-insulin antibodies and treatment is based upon immunossuppression. We hereby present a case of a 33-year-old patient with the diagnosis of diabetes since the childhood that reported using oral hypoglicemic drugs during adolescence. During follow up, the insulin dose was gradually reduced until she was switched to oral hypoglicemic agents. She remained for 11 months in a regimen of glyburide, metformin and acarbose when she was admitted in a hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma. At discharge she was using insulin NPH and in the following months the dose needed to be gradually increased, as she remained hyperglycemic, until we reached 2.7U/Kg/day. Secondary diabetes was investigated and discarded, and she was diagnosed with immunologic insulin resistance. Several immunossuppressive regimens were tried with disappointing results. She is actually using a continuous subcutaneous infusion pump with insulin lispro, micophenolate mophetil and prednisone with improving glycemic control.
Anti-insulin antibody; Insulin resistance; Immunossuppression; Immunology
