INSULIN ANTIBODY

Insulin is a hormone produced by pancreas in your body. It helps the body to convert food into energy. Some diabetic patients who are on insulin injections develop antibodies against insulin. These patients can have an allergic reaction to insulin or they stop responding to insulin treatment. These circulating antibodies bind to insulin making it unavailable for the metabolic function. Free or bioactive insulin is the recommended test in patients with known or suspected insulin antibodies. If insulin antibodies are absent, free & total insulin levels are the same but if insulin antibodies are present, free insulin levels must be measured for correct assessment of insulin in the blood.