Allergy Insulin Porcine

Allergy insulin porcine radio immunoabsorbent blood test is used to detect the presence of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies against the insulin porcine in the blood. This test helps to know the immune response of the body towards the porcine insulin.

What is Insulin and Insulin porcine? Insulin is a hormone produced by a special type of cells in the pancreas. Insulin helps in promoting the absorption of glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into the cells of liver, fat and skeletal muscle. In these cells, glucose is used for the production of energy and utilized by the body. The special type of cells in the pancreas are sensitive to glucose concentrations or blood sugar levels. Insulin production is high when the glucose levels in the blood are high and when glucose levels are low insulin production is low.

Insulin attaches to the target cell receptors and allows the cell to absorb glucose from the blood and the cells utilize the absorbed glucose to produce energy. Insulin thus maintains the blood glucose levels and prevents the hypoglycemia (low in blood glucose or sugar levels) and hyperglycemia (high in blood glucose or sugar levels).

The first type of insulin used to control diabetes in humans is animal insulin. Mostly used animal insulins are pig insulin and cow insulin. Pig insulin is also called Insulin Porcine. Insulin porcine is a type of insulin where insulin from the pancreas cells of the pig is taken and purified to reduce the occurrence of an allergic reaction to the insulin in the individuals.

What is Insulin Porcine allergy?

Insulin porcine allergy is a type of allergy in which an individual is allergic to the pig insulin and may suffer from symptoms such as swelling, redness, and itching around the site of injection, shortness of breath, rash, dizziness, excessive sweating, vomiting, diarrhea etc.

Antibodies are produced when any foreign substance or virus or bacteria enters the body. Antibodies are in Y shaped and are of 5 sub-types. They are IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, IgE. IgE binds to the basophils and mast cells and is seen during allergic reactions.

Why this test is performed?

This test is performed to check whether an individual is allergic to insulin porcine or not. The doctor may ask you to undergo this test if you are suffering from symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, rash, swelling, redness, and itching around the site of injection, shortness of breath, dizziness, excessive sweating, fever, swelling of throat and mouth, etc.

Precautions:

Some medications may change the test results and hence you are advised to inform all your current medications to the doctor prior to the test.

Smoking and alcohol consumption may change the way how insulin act and works.

The test results may be different depending on gender, age, and health conditions. Inform your doctor if you have any other allergies.

Generally, there is no need for medical interventions if test results are normal.

If your test results show high levels of IgE antibodies than the given normal reference range, it may indicate that the person is most likely to have insulin porcine allergy.

If your test results are lower than the normal reference range, it may indicate that the person is unlikely to have insulin porcine allergy.

Based on the test results, your doctor may advise appropriate medical treatments, lifestyle modifications, or further diagnostic tests.