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Help! I just over injected....

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J

JanePH

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Type 1
Hi there,
I’m new to this forum but I’ve had diabetes for 29 years. I generally manage my diabetes really well but this morning I mistakenly injected 13 units of short acting Humalog instead of my Tresiba. I clearly hadn’t woken up enough. What should I do??
I usually only take 3-4 units for breakfast and I’m worried I won’t be able to prop up my blood sugars all day. I haven’t taken my long acting yet just to be safe!
I hope someone can help and has been in the same situation.
Thanks, Jane
 
Welcome to the forum

Bolus for breakfast
You have injected for a very big breakfast so I would start eating. I think I would try to eat to match the injection. So about three times the amount you normally eat. All those things that are usually dismissed as far too high in carbs are suddenly on the list. Keep a watch on your levels through the morning as sometimes a bigger dose doesn’t behave in the same way.

If you are at all worried get help. Is someone else with you. Let them know what you have done and keep someone with you

Basal
In this situation I would still take my basal insulin as that is doing a different job and will be deali with the glucose your liver is dribbling out all day.

If you are still worried contact your team.
JanePH said:
Hi there,
I’m new to this forum but I’ve had diabetes for 29 years. I generally manage my diabetes really well but this morning I mistakenly injected 13 units of short acting Humalog instead of my Tresiba. I clearly hadn’t woken up enough. What should I do??
I usually only take 3-4 units for breakfast and I’m worried I won’t be able to prop up my blood sugars all day. I haven’t taken my long acting yet just to be safe!
I hope someone can help and has been in the same situation.
Thanks, Jane
Click to expand...
 
Ps
We have all done this sort of thing.
Look on it as a learning experience and enjoy what you eat.
Honey, grapes, fruit juices, .....
 
Yep! I’ve sometimes confused my 2 injections too! Keep testing & keep those jelly babies to hand while the bolus is still active: I don’t know how long Tresiba lasts; the Novorapid that I use lasts 4 hours so, I’d keep testing at least every hour for 5 hours! If you can’t eat that big a breakfast then, eat a biscuit every hour or so while you keep testing! I would hold off my basal too for a few hours just in case!
 
@JanePH Do you have anyone with you? Or anyone you could check in with regularly? Go for high sugar, low fillingness foods eg cakes with icing (if you don’t have any cakes, try mixing up some butter icing and spread over biscuits, etc) Sugary cereals are good too as are regular Coke and glucose tablets.

Your blood sugar will probably be a bit shaky for a few hours so keep testing. Personally, I’d also go for a lunch that needs a minimal bolus, or skip lunch altogether if your regime allows you to do that.

It is scary but you’re far from the first person to do this. If in any doubt, get medical help.
 
Lanny said:
I would hold off my basal too for a few hours just in case!
Click to expand...
Not sure that leaving out basal is a good idea for a T1 as we have no background insulin going in from anywhere else. The basal is long acting and I think leaving it out will cause more variables to deal with later on.
 
Thanks so much everyone. My sugars went up to 13 even after a big bowl of granola so I injected 6 tresiba just to see. Sugars came down to 5 and were heading south so I ate a granola bar and it’s now down to 3.4.
So I think I won’t inject any more long acting for now, have lunch and see if it raises a bit.

you’ve all been amazing with your advice. So good to have others on hand for advice. My husband is here too.
 
JanePH said:
So I think I won’t inject any more long acting for now, have lunch and see if it raises a bit.
Click to expand...
I'd say still to take full dose, its that long acting that it could be 2 days later missing it that it could effect your levels and be running higher, Tresiba does nothing straight after injecting xx
 
I agree with @Kaylz that taking the full amount of basal is best but still do extra testing to be safe. I find bigger doses of Humalog can last longer than small ones, so keep on checking throughout the day. I know it can be a pain, but better to be safe when there’s even the slightest risk of a hypo.

Remember too you might get some highs later. Personally I’d be cautious about correcting those and aim for a slightly higher number than usual. Swinging blood sugars are no fun at all.
 
Humalog lasts about 5 hours - so yes you'll be OK over lunch - but may not be by teatime.
 
PPS

Do you have different coloured pens for the two insulins?
I got half unit pens for quick acting which were children’s pens so came in jolly colours.
(Why do they think as adults we want to be boring) .

In spite of having very obvious differences in my pens I still mucked it up on occasions. I also managed to put the wrong insulin in my quick acting pen once. That was a very strange few days before I realised what I had done. We are all human!!
 
Both my insulins were Novo Nordisk - Levemir and Novorapid and as the pens were then plastic when DSN asked what colour I'd like, I had one red and one blue. Novo - 'the red-hot urgent one' in the red (well more maroon really) one and Lev in the cooler blue one, plodding along without a fuss in the background! Should have been a lighter, cooler blue to properly display that I spose, but it was navy. Can't be too picky can we? 😉
 
trophywench said:
Both my insulins were Novo Nordisk - Levemir and Novorapid and as the pens were then plastic when DSN asked what colour I'd like, I had one red and one blue. Novo - 'the red-hot urgent one' in the red (well more maroon really) one and Lev in the cooler blue one, plodding along without a fuss in the background! Should have been a lighter, cooler blue to properly display that I spose, but it was navy. Can't be too picky can we? 😉
Click to expand...
I’m the same, red for “ready to eat” and blue for “ background”. It hasn’t always helped! 😱
 
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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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