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Levemir Pen Counter Didn't go to zero

alcris

alcris

Member
Messages
5
Location
Central Scotland
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi there,

I was diagnosed with T1 around 10 days ago. I've been getting on fine wit the Novorapide and Levemir pens until tonight.

I was supposed to inject 18 from my Levemir pen, but instead of being at zero when I finished it was reading 9. Now I'm scared that I've not had the correct amount of Levemir. I've never had this problem before, Until tonight it's always went to zero after I've injected it.

I don't know what to do and am in a bit of a panic to be honest as there isn't anyone there to talk to from my healthcare team at the weekend.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
alcris said:
Hi there,

I was diagnosed with T1 around 10 days ago. I've been getting on fine wit the Novorapide and Levemir pens until tonight.

I was supposed to inject 18 from my Levemir pen, but instead of being at zero when I finished it was reading 9. Now I'm scared that I've not had the correct amount of Levemir. I've never had this problem before, Until tonight it's always went to zero after I've injected it.

I don't know what to do and am in a bit of a panic to be honest as there isn't anyone there to talk to from my healthcare team at the weekend.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
Click to expand...

Hi there, I don't think you need to worry too much at the moment as it looks like you MAY have taken fewer units than you need (which is better than taking too much) which means your glucose level is likely to show higher than normal for the next 24 hours. I would just check your glucose levels up until you go to sleep and if it's a bit higher in the morning then it will probably come down on it's own eventually. If you were not a newbie then there would be adjustments you could make but for now just keep an eye on it. Sometimes the pens require a slightly harder push so it looks like you may have inserted the needle into the skin but not pushed the top down firm enough (I've done it!). Usually if my pen showed some units still left in it after injecting I would just push the rest in but as I say, you are new to it. By missing those '9 units' (if that has happened) on this one occasion won't make a massive difference, the danger really comes if you weren't taking your insulin over a few days. Try not to panic, from what you have described it's not too bad. You should speak to your team of course as you are new to it all and I can understand your worry. x
 
Last edited:
Thanks SO much for your reply. You've really put my mind at ease and it's very much appreciated....I flew off in a right old panic!
Thanks so much once again.xx
 
Thanks SO much for your reply. You've really put my mind at ease and it's very much appreciated....I flew off in a right old panic!
Thanks so much once again.xx
I hope you see my reply here as I'm having connection problems
 
Hiya, completely agree with the advice above. A one off dose too small is fine as a one off but you will want to monitor your glucose levels tomorrow and I wouldnt be surprised if they were a bit higher if you have taken a little less insulin than expected.

As you are newly diagnosed I wondered if this might be the end of your first cartridge of levemir? Do you have prefilled pens or ones with cartridges that need changing? A picture of the pen might help if you're not sure.

Also, I found my DSN was great replying to emails when I was first diagnosed. I didn't feel like I was prying so much by emailing as she has to choose to check it when it was convenient but it helped settle some of my nerves so maybe see if there is an email or text service your team does. I was diagnosed as a teenager so it might have been a different service for me.
 
UK T1 said:
Hiya, completely agree with the advice above. A one off dose too small is fine as a one off but you will want to monitor your glucose levels tomorrow and I wouldnt be surprised if they were a bit higher if you have taken a little less insulin than expected.

As you are newly diagnosed I wondered if this might be the end of your first cartridge of levemir? Do you have prefilled pens or ones with cartridges that need changing? A picture of the pen might help if you're not sure.

Also, I found my DSN was great replying to emails when I was first diagnosed. I didn't feel like I was prying so much by emailing as she has to choose to check it when it was convenient but it helped settle some of my nerves so maybe see if there is an email or text service your team does. I was diagnosed as a teenager so it might have been a different service for me.
Click to expand...

Many thanks for your reply, very much appreciated. I did what you both suggested. It is indeed a little higher this morning. I've just take the Levemir and the Novorapide.
It was a new pen that I had started. It worked fine today....I mustn't have pushed it in far enough.

You all saved me a lot of worry last night. Thanks so much once again folks. xx
 
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