Re - Insulin injections not working properly

[sean03]

Hi,

I am recently finding that my injections (Novorapid) do not seem to be working properly and I am getting very stressed and worried about it. Sometimes I can have literally multiple injections and my level just does not shift and sometimes it keeps going up.
I have not consulted anyone about it yet but wondered if anyone has had a similar experience or could offer any advice on injection sites, and literally anything that could help me get this sorted asap.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Start back at basics if you haven't already done so and test your basal, it could just be a simple thing like needing extra basal insulin.

How long before you eat do you bolus?

 

[helli]

@Sean how long have you had this problem?
Have you tried changing your pen and/or insulin?
Either may be faulty.

 

[Bexlee]

Hi @sean03 as @helli says have you changed pens etc.
Have you recently in the last few days had your jab? My levels went up quite a lot for a few days after that.

Maybe worth contacting DSN to have a chat. Hope it settles soon

 

[sean03]

@Sean how long have you had this problem?
Have you tried changing your pen and/or insulin?
Either may be faulty.

had it regularly in last 4 weeks. No changes to pens or insulin type. I did have jab and this did affect me but this isn't to do with that as that was some time ago now.

I will check basal as suggested thanks for that.

Sean.

 

[helli]

@sean03 I was not suggesting the problem was due to change of insulin type.
I was suggesting your pen may be faulty or you may have a dodgy batch of insulin.

 

[Inka]

Also, could it be an absorption issue - ie are you using a certain area for the Novorapid that has now become poor for absorption? There don’t need to be any obvious lumps or issues to simply get rubbishy absorption.

 

[Thebearcametoo]

Definitely check your injection sites and make sure you’re rotating sites as much as possible. And do your basal testing. It may be that you have a lingering infection which is just making your body work harder and needing more insulin. Your levels of activity may have changed just enough that you are needing more insulin. Your carb/insulin ratio may need a small adjustment. Bodies don’t stay the same and it’s common to need changes so checking in with your nurse and chatting through what changes might be best is a good idea. In the end you need the insulin you need so work out when to make the changes and whether it’s to basal or bolus (or your correction factor) is best done with the nurse/doctor who can see all your data rather than you struggling on yourself.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear you are having a stressful time with your doses @sean03

It can be very frustrating when doses you know you can usually rely on start acting like water.

You’ve already had some good practical suggestions about checking your delivery method, and the integrity of the insulin itself, plus your injection sites. Are you doing an air shot before each injection too?

Plus also diabetes management basics like whether your basal insulin dose may need tweaking (many find that basal is the bedrock of their insulin management, and if it‘s only a bit out their meal doses and corrections stop working as expected).

Hope you have been able to make some progress this week.

Let us know how you have been getting on