Unsure whether taken insulin

[Ratbag]

I can't remember if I've taken my slow acting insulin today. Should I take it anyway? Or leave it for today?

 

[Kaylz]

Are you on a basal and bolus insulin? What long acting are you using?

Could you not call whoever provides your care or 111 for advice?

If on a bolus insulin as well and you know how to correct then I'd just correct with that until your next dose is due, others may do things differently though so if in any doubt please call someone professional and ask xx

 

[rebrascora]

I would not inject it now if you are not sure because once it is in, you can't take it out again and a double dose could cause you some major hypos. As @Kaylz says, if you also have quick acting insulin then you could use that to firefight any highs resulting from not actually having injected the slow acting insulin, with modest correction doses or drink plenty of water and go for a long walk if you can to bring levels down, if you don't have quick acting insulin.

 

[Robin]

The thing definitely not to do is take it again if you think you may have already taken it, this could lead to hypos tonight. As @Kaylz says, if you are confident with insulin and you use short acting, you could correct with this for today, but only if you’re happy you know what you are doing, Otherwise, try and speak to your DSN.

Edit: @rebrascora types faster than me!

 

[Becka]

A couple of times I have suddenly doubted whether I took it, but I would never take it just in case because too much is worse than too little for a day. And even if I was certain, after a certain point it is too late to do anything about it. Otherwise taking it as normal the following morning would be too much with a good amount still working in my system.

If it happens a lot then come up with a system to help you remember whether you took it. My dose ended up where I was using almost exactly one pen per week, so cold roughly see on the pen where I was. But that ended when I had to reduce it due to the warm weather, and then the consultant reduced it further.

Another of my systems is to see if there is a used needle on the table. Unfortunately that is an informal arrangement that works by chance rather than intentionally. I was in the same situation yesterday afternoon, and was sure I did not take it in the morning. But my system fell down because I did something very stupid: I tided up. Nothing good ever comes from tidying up.

 

[Ratbag]

A couple of times I have suddenly doubted whether I took it, but I would never take it just in case because too much is worse than too little for a day. And even if I was certain, after a certain point it is too late to do anything about it. Otherwise taking it as normal the following morning would be too much with a good amount still working in my system.

If it happens a lot then come up with a system to help you remember whether you took it. My dose ended up where I was using almost exactly one pen per week, so cold roughly see on the pen where I was. But that ended when I had to reduce it due to the warm weather, and then the consultant reduced it further.

Another of my systems is to see if there is a used needle on the table. Unfortunately that is an informal arrangement that works by chance rather than intentionally. I was in the same situation yesterday afternoon, and was sure I did not take it in the morning. But my system fell down because I did something very stupid: I tided up. Nothing good ever comes from tidying up.

Thank you, yes will need a plan of sorts because it's like ground hog day. No more tidying though. It could be deadly.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thank you, yes will need a plan of sorts because it's like ground hog day. No more tidying though. It could be deadly.

There are special replacement caps you can buy for insulin pens (Timesulin or InsulCheck if memory serves) which automatically record when the last dose was taken.

Alternatively, if you take a compatible type of insulin, something like a reusable NovoPen Echo has a little readout on the end.

Alternatively you might find you could have a method of making a note in a diary, or putting a tick in a planner. Possibly even use one of those weekly pill boxes, but put a bead in ones after you take your dose?

Hope you find a system that works for you.

 

[Ljc]

It’s easy to forget if you have or havent . I’ve done some really stooopid things with my insulin.

I agree with the others not to take it again . If your confident to do corrections then do corrections but if not , no harm will be done by running a bit higher between meals .

I think if your insulin’s are compatible with the Novo Echo reusable pen then it would be a good idea to ask for them to be prescribed , you will need the insulin cartridges to be prescribed too.
they come in two colours so it’s easy to identify which insulin is which.
If not then those pen caps that @everydayupsanddowns mentioned would be a good idea .