Injected wrong insulin.....

axle 222 · Jul 30, 2015

Hello everyone,has anyone made the mistake I made over the past few days? Or am I the only idiot.....
I inject 22 units lantus a.m. and 3 units apidra lunch and tea....since Tuesday I had been getting hypos left right and centre,felt sick, trembled, sweated, the works.....took myself to bed and hoped I'd be better next day,injected in the morning and within 30 minutes felt so ill again.....whilst in my confused muddled head state I checked insulin to find I had injected rapid of 22 units,obviously had done the same day before. I can not answer how I got the pens muddled.......contacted d.n. who told me to eat carbs like no tomorrow, difficult when throwing up......I went as low as 2.9 thank fully my daughter came to help....jelly babies lucozade,carbs and by late afternoon I came around.....today right insulin but feel so wiped out......anyone else out there done this??????

himtoo · Jul 30, 2015

Hi axle 222
you are not alone on this one -- although I have not done it 2 days in a row
i injected my novorapid at evening meal twice a few months ago and then it is just all hands to the pumps on the carbs front for the next few hours -- we are human after all.

Natalie1974 · Jul 30, 2015

Think we've all done it at some point...make the most of it...big piece of chocolate cake is in order me thinks . Hope you feel better

axle 222 · Jul 30, 2015

himtoo said:
Hi axle 222
you are not alone on this one -- although I have not done it 2 days in a row
i injected my novorapid at evening meal twice a few months ago and then it is just all hands to the pumps on the carbs front for the next few hours -- we are human after all.

Thank you,I feel such a numpty, but boy do not want those mighty lows ever ever again!!!

axle 222 · Jul 30, 2015

Natalie1974 said:
Think we've all done it at some point...make the most of it...big piece of chocolate cake is in order me thinks . Hope you feel better

Thank you Natalie,just feel a numpty....but apart from feeling hungover today( without having enjoyed a drink),getting back on track.....

noblehead · Jul 30, 2015

Your not the first and you won't be the last to do this @axle 222, try and keep the pens separated (if possible) to avoid this happening again.

axle 222 · Jul 30, 2015

noblehead said:
Your not the first and you won't be the last to do this @axle 222, try and keep the pens separated (if possible) to avoid this happening again.

Thank you.....I for the life of me do not know how the 2pens got into the same draw....a mistake that won't happen again......

noblehead · Jul 30, 2015

I once injected my basal (lantus) twice before setting off for a night-shift, realised as soon as I'd finished the second dose and then panic set in

AndyS · Jul 30, 2015

Hey Axle.
Yup been there done that, in fact I caught myself only just the other day mixing my rapid and levemir in the morning rush (needle actually in my leg with thumb on plunger) so it does happen and I think we shouldn't beat ourselves up about it.

Feeling wiped out for a couple of days can also be expected, I know when I have had severe hypos it can knock my energy levels into the gutter for a few days so I would say don't worry about that too much.
It may well be that with the high levels of rapid you managed to cook off all your body's reserves so just be aware you may be a little more prone to hypos for a few days to come.

Otherwise don't worry about it. It's in the past and you can't do anything about it there. Just try and find a system that will stop you doing it again

For me that consists of usually having my levemir on top of the dresser and the rapid pen is either in the kitchen or on the bedside table. For the most part it works, the other morning was due to me emptying my pockets (rapid pen included) onto the dresser the night before.

Hope you feel a bit better soon.

/A

axle 222 · Jul 30, 2015

AndyS said:
Hey Axle.
Yup been there done that, in fact I caught myself only just the other day mixing my rapid and levemir in the morning rush (needle actually in my leg with thumb on plunger) so it does happen and I think we shouldn't beat ourselves up about it.

Feeling wiped out for a couple of days can also be expected, I know when I have had severe hypos it can knock my energy levels into the gutter for a few days so I would say don't worry about that too much.
It may well be that with the high levels of rapid you managed to cook off all your body's reserves so just be aware you may be a little more prone to hypos for a few days to come.

Otherwise don't worry about it. It's in the past and you can't do anything about it there. Just try and find a system that will stop you doing it again

For me that consists of usually having my levemir on top of the dresser and the rapid pen is either in the kitchen or on the bedside table. For the most part it works, the other morning was due to me emptying my pockets (rapid pen included) onto the dresser the night before.

Hope you feel a bit better soon.

/A

Thank you Andy, very much for that,sums up exactly......Yes levels are lower today,thank you for explanation,hopefully wipe out will go by weekend....has made me feel better knowing others have done the same.....I certainly checked checked and checked on injecting today....cheers.

axle 222 · Jul 30, 2015

noblehead said:
I once injected my basal (lantus) twice before setting off for a night-shift, realised as soon as I'd finished the second dose and then panic set in

Thank you had so many kind replies off people doing this,has made me feel better about it......

Natalie1974 · Jul 30, 2015

Another good idea is to have different coloured pens for your insulins...if you use Novopens they come in a few different colours I have red for rapid and blue for levemir...hopefully the colour should set off an internal alarm. Having said that...I'm sure it'll be a while before you do it again...although I'm sure you will...I know I've done it more than once...it happens.

axle 222 · Jul 30, 2015

Natalie1974 said:
Another good idea is to have different coloured pens for your insulins...if you use Novopens they come in a few different colours I have red for rapid and blue for levemir...hopefully the colour should set off an internal alarm. Having said that...I'm sure it'll be a while before you do it again...although I'm sure you will...I know I've done it more than once...it happens.

The lantus solostar and apidra solostar are very alike,but I've now put colored bands on apidra,given it a new home downstairs a d hope I never do it again...
Thanks Natalie.....it's great getting reassurance.....

urbanracer · Jul 30, 2015

So there is a reason to stay pre-mixed !!!

Glad it turned out ok.

Daibell · Jul 31, 2015

Hi. Yes, I have a red pen for my NovoRapid and Grey for the Levemir. I only have a single injection of Levemir each day and put the pen on my pillow for my bedtime injection. Haven't made a mistake yet but the day will come.....

axle 222 · Jul 31, 2015

Daibell said:
Hi. Yes, I have a red pen for my NovoRapid and Grey for the Levemir. I only have a single injection of Levemir each day and put the pen on my pillow for my bedtime injection. Haven't made a mistake yet but the day will come.....

Thanks diabell, I'm being extra vigilant now.....have got stickers and bright bands on the apidra now,have given it a " home" downstairs so hope I never ever make that mistake again .....

Gary61 · Jul 31, 2015

Funnily enough I injected 22units of fast acting Humalog insulin instead of my Lantus at bedtime. I had to stay up until around 4am getting through umpteen slices of toast and jam together with a full bottle of lucozade. Not the best of nights and boy was I tired the next day. The trouble I think is that we all sort of get into an automatic type mode which basically switches off the decision making part of the brain....that's my theory anyway

noblehead · Jul 31, 2015

Gary61 said:
Funnily enough I injected 22units of fast acting Humalog insulin instead of my Lantus at bedtime. I had to stay up until around 4am getting through umpteen slices of toast and jam together with a full bottle of lucozade. Not the best of nights and boy was I tired the next day. The trouble I think is that we all sort of get into an automatic type mode which basically switches off the decision making part of the brain....that's my theory anyway

Thank goodness you noticed and didn't just go to sleep

Jackie006 · Jul 31, 2015

I did this one night injected 22 units of apidra instead of lantus had to stay awake for hours just kept eating anything to get sugars up luckily all was fine but scary

axle 222 · Jul 31, 2015

Thank you.....I now realise it's easy done....scary....but over comerble ( if that's the word).....

Injected wrong insulin.....

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