Insulin antibodies in diabetics receiving a single type of insulin.

Insulin antibodies were studied in 77 patients with diabetes mellitus who received a single insulin type from onset of treatment (12 crystalline insulin, 26 Novo Lente insulin, 7 HG insulin, 6 Komb insulin, 5 Long insulin, 17 Monocomponent Semilente insulin, 4 Monocomponent Lente insulin). The mean antibody titers in the patients treated with highly purified preparations were close to those found after treatment with conventional insulins. Correlations are established between the antibody titer and duration of diabetes, insulin requirements, and degree of metabolic stability. The relationship with diabetic complications was difficult to define but not improbable.