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Postgrad Med J 2004;80:732-733 doi:10.1136/pgmj.2004.019547
  • Case report

Nodules of fibrocollagenous scar tissue induced by subcutaneous insulin injections: a cause of poor diabetic control

  1. M E Wallymahmed,
  2. P Littler,
  3. C Clegg,
  4. M T Haqqani,
  5. I A MacFarlane
  1. University Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Mrs Maureen Wallymahmed
 Diabetes Centre, University Hospital Aintree, Rice Lane, Liverpool L91AE, UK; maureen.wallymahmedaht.nwest.nhs.uk
  • Received 27 January 2004
  • Accepted 19 April 2004

Abstract

A 46 year old man with longstanding type 1 diabetes developed major weight loss and marked deterioration in diabetic control. He had been persistently injecting insulin into areas of abdominal lipohypertrophy within which hard collagenised fibrous tissue nodules had developed. Injecting insulin at different sites dramatically improved blood glucose control. Fibrocollagenous nodules induced by insulin injections have not been previously described. Examination of a further 73 type 1 patients revealed lipohypertrophy in 44% and hard subcutaneous nodules on two.

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