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Really urgent - help please

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miguel81

miguel81

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hello everyone

I injected 16 units of Novorapid an hour ago before eating my dinner.

I was ready for bed a few minutes ago and had to inject 22 units of Lantus but I got distracted - don't know why - and injected 22 units of Novorapid.

Apart from consuming a kilo of sugar I don't know what to do. I have had a slab of fruit cake and 4 chocolate chip cookies. I am now scared of going to bed so I shall sit in front of my computer in the hope that someone can offer me a solution. I don't have a hospital near me, or anyone I can call on for help. I'm really worried. Thanks. Michael
 
Do you know what 22 units of novorapid equates to in carbs for you as you are going to need to eat it ? I would also be checking BG's very closely for the next few hours (active insulin time) I'm sure you'll be ok, TC 🙂
 
No, I'm afraid I don't know. We do not get the support and information in Spain that you have in the UK. I was quite high before dinner, 13.4, hence the 16 units of Novorapid. I just checked and my reading was 10.8, that is after dinner and the cake and biscuits.

Because of other medical problems I am usually in bed by 8.30pm, it is now 8.44 and I am not well but I dare not go to bed just yet. Thanks for your answer.
 
I've had a look in the bible - Ragner Hanas book for taking the wrong insulin at bedtime ie rapid (a common problem apparently), it advises to check BG's hourly or more if it drops below 6mmols, and to eat fast acting carbs to compensate (nothing with fat in). Also have some fast acting carbs handy. Says the effects should wear off after 4-5 hours. Good luck!

Regarding taking your long acting it says to wait a few hours first and only take half your usual dose.
 
Michael, do you have any sugary drinks or fruit juice? That might be easier to consume than lots of food. I'm afraid you will need to stay awake and keep testing regularly. Let us know what your tests show so that we know you are OK. What did you eat for your evening meal? That should give you some idea of the amount of carbs you need to consume to counteract the extra insulin i.e. if you needed 16 for your meal you will need that much again and a bit more to cover the 22 units.

Try not to worry and don't blame yourself, I think we have all done something like this. Take care, and keep in touch.
 
Thank you. The only fast acting thing I have is chocolate bars - but they contain fat - and jelly babies. I will try and stay up until 10 pm and then take just 11 units of Lantus as you suggest. I will do blood tests at 9 pm (in a few minutes) and again at 10 pm. I am grateful for your help. Is there a commonly available fast acting carbohydrate that you could recommend?
 
Michael please set your alarm so you can test again as needed if you are going to bed when the insulin is still active 🙂 Jelly babies are good to have handy, use those.
 
I do have Fanta orange-flavoured drink. I had a small portion of cottage pie for dinner, I don't eat very much in this heat. I do have several liters of lager which is high in sugar and therefore drunk sparingly. Reading a few seconds ago was 11.7.
 
Michael12420 said:
I do have Fanta orange-flavoured drink. I had a small portion of cottage pie for dinner, I don't eat very much in this heat. I do have several liters of lager which is high in sugar and therefore drunk sparingly. Reading a few seconds ago was 11.7.
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Don't drink the lager, the alcohol will cause your levels to fall despite the sugar content. This is because your liver will stop releasing its own glucose whilst it processes the alcohol. What does it say on the label of the Fanta about carbo hydrate content?
 
Michael12420 said:
It says hidrato de carbona 8.5 gm per 100 ml of juice.
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That should be a good standby then, in addition to the jelly babies. It may be that the cake and biscuits you have eaten have already been sufficient as your levels still appear well up, so hopefully things will settle. I would keep testing every 30 mins.
 
Thanks for all of the help and information. Reading a few minutes ago was 10.7. Unfortunately I had about half a pint of lager before your message came through. Duh.
I simply can't stay up any longer as I can't keep my eyes open. Jelly babies, Fanta and biscuits will adorn my bedside table. Good night, and thanks again.
 
Michael12420 said:
Thanks for all of the help and information. Reading a few minutes ago was 10.7. Unfortunately I had about half a pint of lager before your message came through. Duh.
I simply can't stay up any longer as I can't keep my eyes open. Jelly babies, Fanta and biscuits will adorn my bedside table. Good night, and thanks again.
Click to expand...

Things seem fairly steady Michael. Don't worry about the lager, half a pint won't be a problem. As suggested though, could you set an alarm for an hour or so just to check and see where you are?

Wishing you a good night, and that you have no further problems. Take care.
 
Dear Michael i just read your post. I hope you are well today, im sure as i type this you are in the and of nod. You were given great advice.
 
Good morning everyone. I set the alarm last night for 23.30 pm and the reading was 'LO', the lowest actual reading on my meter is 1.7 so this must have been lower than that. I had four jelly babies and a slug or two of Fanta and re-set the alarm for 01.30. At 01.30 the reading was 5.2. I just drank some more Fanta as chewing jelly babies at that time of the morning was hard work - they are now as hard as humbugs! It's now 09.18 and my reading is 7.0 which is slightly higher than my normal reading at this time of day - but I ain't complaining.

I am so very grateful for all of the help and support I received. It was very scary and I had visions of never waking up.

I read this site every day, don't contribute much I'm afraid but then as I have said before life as a diabetic in Spain is totally, totally different from that of the UK.

I'm a bit shattered this morning so, apart from taking my dogs out, I intend to do zilch.

Thanks again.
 
Hi Michael,

Good to hear that you're OK. I've been using Novorapid and Levemir for about 5 months now and have on one occasion made the same error so I now keep the two different pens in different places to try and reduce the chances of doing it again if I'm tired or not paying enough attention when it comes to taking Levemir.

John
 
It's not that different, Michael! I think wherever you live, self-education is the key.

Anyway, I'm very pleased to hear you're ok this morning!🙂

Why not stock up on small cartons of orange or apple juice for raising low BGs? My DSN insists on using sugar, but I quite like having teeth!
 
Glad you are ok enjoy walking your dogs 🙂
 
Glad to hear your feeling better this morning Michael, and well done to you guys for helping him, pats on the back all round 🙂
 
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