Type 1 Insulin mix up!

[johnny368]

I've been type1 for just over 3 years and last night, only for the second time ever I gave myself 14 units of Humalog rather than my Lantus background insulin...oops! My bg was 6.7 and I only realised when I put the pen back down and thought ****, or words to that effect. I then proceded to have a can of pepsi, a homemade fruit bun with lot's of jam and 14 After Eight chocolates. My bg this morning was 5.8 so a good guess of carbs but has anyone else made this foolish mistake? Injecting for me is on autopilot so as soon as i'd put the Humalog down I wasn't actually sure that i'd taken it, well I was hoping that I hadn't taken it so waited 45 minutes to test my blood, and it was dropping so midnight feast it was!

 

[slip]

I've been there and done that! And like you Johnny autopilot sometimes means I can't actually remember if I did the jab or not 2 mins after actually doing it (or did I?!) Now have Novopen 5's that can display when and how much last dosage was, and in 2 different colours to differentiate.

I split my slow acting and the mistake happened at breakfast, 22units of fast acting instead of the slow - I didn't go to work that day! took me all morning to keep on top of it but I must admit it was one of the most steady mornings for keeping BS test results in the normal range - sugar surfing I think it's called?

 

[Natalie1974]

I think it's safe to say that we've all done this at some point...as you say...as soon as you put the pen down...the realisation sweeps over you and you want to kick yourself. I did it not so long ago...22 units of novorapid...was sat up in bed all night with a bottle of fat coke and assorted naughtiness too scared to go to sleep...if it hadn't been so scary I think I would've quite enjoyed the rare treats...wish I'd had After Eights though...could've almost made it worthwhile

There are a number of handy tricks to avoid this sort of thing happening...different coloured pens...I have red for rapid and blue for basal. I also try to keep pens in different locations, I keep my rapid in my bag with me at all times and tend to keep my basal by the bed as I only usually take it before bed and when I wake up. Also a Novopen Echo/Novopen 5 is worth getting hold of if you don't have it already...this keep a record of last dose and duration since you took it. Although there are devices that you can buy as attachments for other insulin pens.

 

[Mep]

yes, I've definitely made that error... you're not alone. It is frightening though after you realise you've used the wrong insulin and hope to goodness you don't hypo... so you go and eat something when you really don't want to. lol

 

[Gaz-M]

think we all do it at some point

but glad your ok and a gtreat guess with the carb guessing

 

[noblehead]

Welcome to the club @johnny368

One night I injected my lantus dose twice and was working nights at the time, not a very nice experience and still remember it to this day having to check bg frequently and guzzling loads of food.

 

[steve_p6]

Ive done it too, 24u Novo, panicced and tried to eat 240 grams of juice/biscuits etc to compensate as quick as possible. NIn hindsight now I know that the novo will take 30 mins to kick in and most of its action will then be spread over the next 2-3 hours. Next time, my plan is to put a good film on and take those 2-3 hours to enjoy all the sweets and treats we normally limit ourselves on.