Insulin oedema in a 9 year old child with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a case report

Abstract

Insulin plays an essential role in the management of patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) however, its clinical use is associated with a variety of adverse effects. Among these is generalised oedema. The condition now commonly referred to as insulin oedema was first described in 1928.1 In the 1960's it was reported in two series from East Africa.2-3 and the first paediatric specific report was made in 1979.4 Over the years there has been a steady increase in case reports. Most of these have been in the Caucasian population, however it is possible that there is an African predominance and it is probable that the condition is both underdiagnosed and unreported in the African region.3 Herein we describe the case of a 9 year old black African girl who presented to our institution with insulin oedema following insulin initiation for the management of type 1 diabetes mellitus presenting as diabetic ketoacidosis.