Insulin and sudden hypoglycemia

[ian_walker]

I have for many years split my Lantus dosage taking half (22) at 6am and thee other half at 6pm. I also take 500 metformin with breakfast and with evening meal so far this system has worked and my HBa1c has been in the region of 6.5 for many years.
Over the past week my morning readings have in the 8s and 9s and I had a nasty experience last evening, I took my evening reading which was 6.5 then injected 22 units and then sat down at my desk. Suddenly I had the hypoglycemic symptoms and immediately took another reading which was 3.7. I immediately took glucose tablets but it took about 30 minutes before I recovered. It was a nasty experience and to be honest frightened me a little
Any observations would be appreciated

 

[Juicyj]

Morning Ian, welcome to the forum

Can I just check are you type 1 or 2 as your status is showing you as a type 2 ? It would be helpful to know more about your management, so do you take a quick acting insulin with mealtimes also ?

 

[diamondnostril]

Hi @ian_walker . . .

These threads might be useful for you?

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/lantus-followed-by-2-9-hypo.95565/
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/lantus-users.67760/

Regards
Antony

 

[slip]

Someone the other day had similar issue, Lantus seemingly acting like a rapid acting insulin - doubt I'd be able to find the thread but they had wondered if they'd injected into a blood vessel instead of subcutaneous fat - is it possible you did the same, IIRC lantus crystallizes when injected into fat and then dissolves slowly - ergo missing the 'fat' layer might well cause these symptoms.

Making sure you 'pinch an inch' or get shorter needles maybe?

 

[ian_walker]

Hi @ian_walker . . .

These threads might be useful for you?

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/lantus-followed-by-2-9-hypo.95565/
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/lantus-users.67760/

Regards
Antony

Thank you that link was very useful

 

[ian_walker]

Morning Ian, welcome to the forum

Can I just check are you type 1 or 2 as your status is showing you as a type 2 ? It would be helpful to know more about your management, so do you take a quick acting insulin with mealtimes also ?

Hi I am type 2 with insulin and I do not take quick acting insulin at mealtime. Some of the replies I have received indicate that this is a problem some people have with Lantus, I will just have to make sure I inject into the fat but any advice you could give would be useful

 

[ian_walker]

Someone the other day had similar issue, Lantus seemingly acting like a rapid acting insulin - doubt I'd be able to find the thread but they had wondered if they'd injected into a blood vessel instead of subcutaneous fat - is it possible you did the same, IIRC lantus crystallizes when injected into fat and then dissolves slowly - ergo missing the 'fat' layer might well cause these symptoms.

Making sure you 'pinch an inch' or get shorter needles maybe?

Thank you will pinch in future

 

[Juicyj]

Hello @ian_walker - some good advice offered by members here, definitely follow the 'pinch an inch' rule in future, also please report this to your diabetic nurse so they are aware of your hypo.