Non-urgent advice: Our services
The National Severe Insulin Resistance Service provides services for investigation and management into severe insulin resistance and associated conditions in both adults and children at the Wolfson Diabetes and Endocrine Clinic within the Institute of Metabolic Science.
There is a weekly multidisciplinary clinic which consists of a consultant, nurse specialist, dietitian, genetic counsellor in some cases, and paediatric endocrine consultant for children (up to the age of 18).
The aim of the service is to provide diagnostic, therapeutic and educational support for both patients and their local clinical carers, and to establish and disseminate evidence-based recommendations for the therapy of this severe group of conditions.
Non-urgent advice: Referral information
The service is targeted at patients with lipodystrophy and/or extreme insulin resistance.
The referral criteria are as follows: Donohue Syndrome or Rabson Mendenhall Syndrome with confirmed extreme hyperinsulinemia, Clinically diagnosed lipodystrophy (generalised or partial), Unexplained severe insulin resistance with: BMI<30kg/m2 (BMI Z score <=+3 in children) AND acanthosis nigricans AND/OR severe hyperinsulinemia*, *fasting insulin>150pM or peak plasma insulin on oral glucose tolerance testing >1,500p
Attend Anywhere video consultation
Did you know your outpatient appointment for this service may now be done by video consultation using Attend Anywhere. This enables you to be able to attend your appointment from home, saving you time and money.
We are happy to accept referrals or to discuss any patients whom it is felt have severe insulin resistance and/or lipodystrophy. We can provide diagnostic (both genetic and biochemical) support in addition to access to funded treatment options including GLP1 agonists, U500 insulin, leptin and IGF-I in some patients. We also provide specialist dietetic input and diabetes nursing input. Ongoing care is usually shared closely with the referring clinician.
Clinics
Wolfson diabetes and endocrine clinic
Resources and Useful links
For enquiries into insulin receptor antibody testing, please email our research team.
Videos
How it looks and feels to live with lipodystrophy
The Diabetes Network Wales has collaborated with the National Severe Insulin Resistance Service in Addenbrookes, Cambridge and Lipodystrophy UK to make a series of films. Over six short films we hear from a group of people of all ages who are living with lipodystrophy.
They explain what it looks and feels like, and share their experience of living as well as possible with lipodystrophy.
The films provide a real insight into this rare condition and an opportunity to understand how it might present and what to look out for.
Each film carries links to further information if you want to know more.
Helpful links
- Lipodystrophy UK support group Facebook page (opens in a new tab)
- NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) - metreleptin criteria (opens in a new tab)
- Amryt Pharma - metreleptin information (opens in a new tab)
Patient information leaflets
Please see our Patient information A-Z for related patient information leaflets
