Accidentally given too much basal...any tips?

katmcd

Well-Known Member
Messages
90
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Like an idiot I have given myself 15u lantus instead of 9u.
Just a mix up at tea time just now, I am having a fairly carby dinner so have only administered half of my novorapid I would have normally.
I'll avoid exercise tomorrow and I have a dexcom G5 which can alert when I'm asleep if BG drops but is there anything else that could be suggested for the next 24h?
Thanks so much!
 

GrantGam

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,603
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hello @katmcd,

Apologies for the late reply. This forum is awful in regards to the alerts, so I hadn't got wind of this thread when it was posted...

In this instance, I would say that you've done the right thing in lowering your meal time bolus - although reducing your bolus by half may have been slightly excessive. Especially if there was a lot of carbohydrate in your meal. It is always better to be high than low, especially during the night.

If I was in your situation, I would have opted for a 20g carb snack before hitting the hay. As your using the G5, you also have the luxury of being alerted when your heading for a hypo too - so there's no real need to run very high BG's overnight.

As for today, it would be a good idea to slightly reduce your bolus doses for meals; or to set your target higher than normal. So if you aim for a 6mmol/L normally, maybe try aiming for 8-9mmol/L. Let us know how you get on:)
 
  • Like
Reactions: himtoo

katmcd

Well-Known Member
Messages
90
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
@GrantGam Thank you for your reply. It has all been fairly settled and nothing dramatic has happened as I expected from too much basal rather than too much quick acting. Luckily I'm off work this week so I can be as lazy as I like today!
Overnight was fine. I did go to bed higher than I usually aim for at 8 and woke up at 6 so your advice wold have been spot on.
I'll try and make sure not to have this happen again, silly how a tweak in normal routine can muck things up.
 

GrantGam

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,603
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
@GrantGam Thank you for your reply. It has all been fairly settled and nothing dramatic has happened as I expected from too much basal rather than too much quick acting. Luckily I'm off work this week so I can be as lazy as I like today!
Overnight was fine. I did go to bed higher than I usually aim for at 8 and woke up at 6 so your advice wold have been spot on.
I'll try and make sure not to have this happen again, silly how a tweak in normal routine can muck things up.
These things happen. I've double dosed my basal a couple of times. Also, I've ended up not taking my basal, because I thought I had done already...

We're human and we all make mistakes, but you're more than aware of what to do in such an event so you're well prepared. A step ahead!

Enjoy your week off:)
 

TheBigNewt

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,167
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Rarely I'll think later in the AM (when I take Lantus): Did I take it this morning? I try and leave my Lantus pen on the bathroom counter after I take it and put it in the drawer later on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HLC2017

Robkww

Well-Known Member
Messages
262
These things happen. I've double dosed my basal a couple of times. Also, I've ended up not taking my basal, because I thought I had done already...

We're human and we all make mistakes, but you're more than aware of what to do in such an event so you're well prepared. A step ahead!

Enjoy your week off:)


Hi @GrantGam, thank you for the really useful input you provide to the forum - but what has happened to your avatar?
 

GrantGam

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,603
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi @GrantGam, thank you for the really useful input you provide to the forum - but what has happened to your avatar?
Thank you @Robkww; that's very nice of you to say:)

Oh, don't worry about the avatar! If you thought that I'd "let myself go" or stopped looking after my BGL's, don't worry - it's just Mick Fleetwood looking spooky:)
 
  • Like
Reactions: therower