Skip to main content

Insulin Edema

Meaning

Insulin edema, also known as insulin-induced fluid retention, is a clinical phenomenon characterized by the accumulation of excess interstitial fluid that occurs shortly after the initiation of insulin therapy or a rapid, significant improvement in glycemic control in individuals with severe hyperglycemia. This transient side effect is typically benign and self-limiting, presenting as peripheral swelling, particularly in the lower extremities, or occasionally as pulmonary edema. The condition is a direct physiological consequence of the kidney’s altered handling of sodium and water in the presence of newly normalized insulin signaling.