October 4, 2000
Daily Care
Question from Cottageville, South Carolina, USA:
My six year old son has had type 1 diabetes for the last three years. Recently, he has had episodes of low blood sugars. He was admitted to the hospital and found to have anti-insulin antibodies. His blood sugars are now in the 200-300 mg/dl [11.1-16.7 mmol/L] range. We are gradually increasing his insulin, but we can’t seem to get him within target range. Our endocrinologist and his partner have different opinions of what we need to do. Do you have any suggestions?
Answer:
Antibodies to insulin are common and rarely clinically significant. In any case, they would be responsible for decreased sensitivity to insulin and rising doses rather than unexplained hypoglycaemia. It is more important that he should be checked for celiac disease, Addison’s disease [a form of adrenal gland failure], and hypothyroidism.
KJR