Diabetes injections and nickel allergy

My 13yo son Sean was diagnosed with Type 1 nine months ago.  We have known for years that he has a severe nickel allergy, and reacts to even the minute amounts of nickel in stainless steel and even some sterling silvers.  He has reacted to jeans snaps, orthodontic wire, watches, and even to a surgical pin placed in a broken finger.

Now he is reacting to the nickel in the stainless steel of his insulin needles, and is developing hives at his injection sites.  I have contacted several syringe manufacturers but have not been able to find any that make a nickel-free needle.   In fact, some needles are actually nickel-coated.

An insulin pump is not an option for us.  Our insurance will not pay for it, plus Sean takes karate 5x/week (not good to get kicked in an insulin pump, right?)

He is already taking Claritin during the day and Benedryl at night, but the hives just get worse.

Does anyone have any ideas that might help us?  We are only nine months into a lifelong disease, and the allergic reacting is worsening.

[JDRF-VOL-RL]

Hi!  Have you looked at the I-Port?

http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/d_06_312.htm
and
http://www.pattonmd.com/product/

It's a device that inserts a vinyl tube under the skin, rather like an insulin pump insertion site, and then you give shots into that device.  His skin would never come into contact with the nickel, and you can avoid the reaction.

[JDRF-VOL-SG]

Furthermore, if you try this and hives continue, then you might want to ask his doctor to look at possible insulin allergies. I have heard from some type 1 folks who get hives at injection sites because of allergies to one brand of insulin (or rather whatever that insulin is suspended in), and when they switch to another similar type of insulin, the hive problems go away. Just a thought. Maybe you should keep this in the back of your mind in case the nickel is not the real problem, but perhaps one of the insulins he takes. Maybe he should try the I-Port first, and if that doesn't help, then perhaps look at trying some different brands of similar insulins.

YOu received some very good advice from JDRF-VOL-RL, in my humble opinion. I wish you and your son the best.