Common side effects | Hypoglycemia | Burning | Rash and allergic reaction | Scar tissue | Bruising and irritation | Infections | Weight gain
For people with type 1 diabetes and for some with type 2, daily insulin injections are absolutely necessary. But insulin is a very complex hormone, and daily injections require tremendous attention and organization. In this article, we will discuss potential side effects of insulin that anyone who takes it should be aware of.
Common side effects of insulin
Keep in mind that most of the side effects of insulin are actually the result of inaccurate doses and improper injection practices. If used with great care and careful handling, a person with diabetes can maintain excellent health throughout his life.
Hypoglycemia
If the dose of insulin is too high, the consequence will be an excessive decrease in blood sugar. That is why it is so important to know your ratios by which the bolus dose is considered.
Symptoms of low blood sugar include:
- dizziness
- excessive concern
- sweating (cold and clammy sweat), chills
- Irritability or impatience
- confusion
- palpitations
- excessive hunger
- nausea
- pallor
- drowsiness
- weakness
- blurred vision
- tingling or numbness in the lips, tongue or cheeks
- headache
- coordination problems, clumsiness
- nightmares (if you sleep)
- apoplexy
Burning
Some insulin may burn during or immediately after an injection. This is often found in long-acting insulins, for example, when using Lantus. A burning sensation arises because this type of insulin has a high level of acidity.
Some insulins can cause a tingling sensation or burning sensation if you inject them in muscle tissue rather than the body fat. This is also possible with the introduction of insulin into a frequently used area for injections that needs to be healed.
However, it is difficult to prevent a burning sensation from “acidic” insulins. If you experience unpleasant sensations, you can try to use cold to reduce pain. For this, apply an ice pack to the injection area prior to insulin administration. This may help, but probably won’t eliminate the burning sensation completely.
Rash and allergic reaction
Less than 4 percent of people with diabetes are hypersensitive or allergic to insulin, but if you are one of these 4 percent, this is a serious problem.
It is believed that an allergic reaction in humans is a reaction to supplements in commercially available insulin.
Symptoms of an insulin allergy include:
- Edema at the injection site
- Severe rash, hives, and itching
- Low blood pressure
- Swelling in the throat and mouth
- Shortness of breath (anaphylaxis)
“An allergy to insulin can be local or systemic, as well as immediate or delayed,” the 2016 study explains. “The main mechanisms of allergies associated with insulin can be divided into three types: type I (IgE-mediated), type III (IgG-mediated immune complex) and type IV (T-cell-mediated delayed type) hypersensitivity. Hypersensitivity of type I, which manifests itself in the form of local edema, itching, shortness of breath, is the most common form.”
To date, there is no single treatment method that is effective enough for widespread use.
“For the treatment of allergic reactions to insulin, various treatment options have been proposed, ranging from symptom relief with simple antihistamines to more complex insulin desensitization therapy,” the study explains.
While steroids can also significantly help with an allergic reaction, they create tremendous insulin resistance and make it very difficult to regulate blood sugar levels, so they cannot be used as a long-term solution.
Scar tissue
Rotation of injection sites is critical to preventing scar tissue formation. If you inject into the same area of your body over and over again every day, your body will accumulate a harder fiber tissue every time it heals from damage by this injection.
Over time, the accumulation of connective tissue will affect your body’s ability to properly absorb the insulin you injected, which leads to an increase in blood sugar because insulin is poorly absorbed from such places.
Rotation of injections between different areas of the body (thighs, abdomen, back of the hands, buttocks, etc.) can prevent the rapid formation of connective tissue at the injection site.
Unfortunately, the formation of lipohypertrophy is inevitable if you need to do many injections every day. However, you can slow down these processes.
Bruising and irritation at the injection site
Sometimes you just put the needle in the wrong place, and this leads to the formation of small bruises.
The solution is quite simple: rotation, rotation, and again rotation. Constantly changing injection sites can help prevent the creation of too much damage in one area.
If you notice a bruise or irritation at the injection site, try to avoid this particular area (and around it) for the next week or two so that it heals.
If irritation persists or the bruises spread rather than decrease, consult a doctor immediately to make sure that the infection does not develop in the damage.
Infections
Potentially, infection can occur at the injection site, although this is a fairly rare situation. Often problems arise with users of insulin pumps. Usually this is due to wearing one infusion set too long. To prevent such problems, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations: change the Teflon cannula once every 3 days, the infusion set with a metal cannula — once every 2 days.
The type of bacteria that most often causes infections in areas where insulin is injected is called Mycobacterium. The higher the blood sugar level and glycated hemoglobin, the higher the risk of developing an infection, as this contributes to the growth of bacteria and a weakened immune system.
Using alcohol wipes at the injection site or at the location of the infusion set will help reduce the risk of infection. It is also important to use syringes only once and change the infusion set according to the rules.
Weight gain
Excessive amounts of insulin can cause your body to accumulate excess fat.
Read more about the causes and solutions of the problem in the article: Insulin and weight gain: how to cope with the problem
Insulin is an important component in life. But you should approach with responsibility to use it to prevent most of these side effects. Work with your doctor to ensure that selected insulin and dosages improve your health, rather than harm it.