Pancreas transplantation as rescue therapy in a patient with type 1 diabetes and concurrent subcutaneous insulin resistance

Abstract

Patients with type 1 diabetes and concurrent subcutaneous insulin resistance present unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for clinicians. The standard therapeutic approach is the administration of intravenous insulin. Pancreatic transplantation should be considered at an appropriate time, particularly in the event of life-threatening ketoacidosis, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, catheter-associated thrombosis, and infections. We present the case of a 24-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes since early childhood and increasingly uncontrollable subcutaneous and intramuscular insulin resistance. Furthermore, we present the diagnostic pathway and therapeutic interventions performed, culminating in pancreatic transplantation as a curative approach. Immediate graft function resulted in optimal glycemic control.