Jan. 16 (iVillage Total Health) -- Medical advances have made insulin allergies rare, and recent innovations may help diabetic patients who still react to this medication, researchers report.

Belgian researchers at the University of Liege reviewed the medical literature on insulin allergies. They report that more than half of insulin-dependent patients 50 years ago suffered some type of allergic reaction to the hormonal drug.

Improvements that have made insulin allergies a thing of the past for most patients include better purification of insulin harvested from animals and the creation of synthetic human insulin. The synthetic version, developed through genetic engineering, produces fewer allergic reactions and has largely replaced animal-derived insulin.

New methods of insulin administration, such as continuous infusion or pumping, may benefit those who react to the sudden dosages supplied by syringe injections or insulin pens.

In addition, now that the gene for human insulin has been sequenced, scientists can begin redesigning the insulin molecule to retain its action without upsetting the immune system, the researchers report.

The study was published in Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews.

Copyright 2007 iVillage Total Health.