Insulin oedema.

A 35 year old markedly underweight woman presented with uncontrolled diabetes. Following insulin therapy she developed gross fluid retention with extensive peripheral oedema, bilateral pleural effusions and weight gain of 18.8 kg in 22 days, accompanied by a fall in plasma albumin. She responded well to treatment with diuretics and salt-poor albumin, losing 10.3 kg in 6 days without recurrence of oedema. Severe insulin oedema is an uncommon complication of insulin therapy and may be due to effects of insulin on both vascular permeability and the renal tubule.