A case of diabetes mellitus associated with anti-insulin autoantibodies without previous insulin injection.

A case of diabetes mellitus who had high levels of fasting immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and low levels of immunoreactive C-peptide (CPR) is reported. Examination of her serum disclosed the presence of IgG class k + lambda type anti-insulin autoantibodies. She has never been treated with insulin, nor had drugs which have been reported to be responsible for inducing insulin autoimmune syndrome. Despite the presence of autoantibodies against insulin, she has never experienced hypoglycemia. Significance of the production of autoantibodies against insulin and physicochemical parameters of anti-insulin antibodies in her serum are discussed.