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Scary experience, no idea why!!

asyarlk

asyarlk

Well-Known Member
Messages
155
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi

I had an incredibly scary situation last night and I can explain why it happened.

I had 20g carb in my dinner and took 1u novorapid and waited 15 mins. I was 5.7mmol when I injected. This routine is something I do every day and it really helps with any spikes.

20 mins after my novorapid, my leg where I injected was throbbing and was painful for at least an hour or more. This never happens.

After an 1 hour after eating I was 6.7mmol which I was happy with as normally after 2hours I come down a bit more. However, after 2hours (lantus time) I was 8.5, and felt a little confused but not worried.

Then I had a nap on the sofa, another hour and a half later I woke up and did not feel right, I tested and was 2.7. So I treated the hypo with glucotabs and then 20g carb and went to 5.7 and then went to sleep, knowing that the 20g carb will slow release. This morning I am 6.2.

Any thought how I can go from 8.5 to 2.7 in such a short space of time?

I'm trying to justify this in my head as I was getting to grips with diabetes and feel like I've got backwards.

Thank you!
 
Welcome to the odd world of type 1 diabetes.

It sounds like your initial shot may have encountered a site with poor absorption, or your Lantus was nearing the end of its cycle and did so in a more extreme way than usual, resulting in the initial high.

The dip could be down to a combination of the RA insuling and Lantus shot acting together, the Lantus not precipitating properly, and a host of other things.

Things you can initially do for both of these potential issues are to change injection sites and see if you still suffer the same effects.

The reality is you should keep an eye on your sugars and if you start to see a pattern emerging, then look at making some changes to your insulin. If it turns out to be a one off, then don't worry too much about it.
 
Agree with Tim, injection site problems can lead to erratic insulin absorption, try to avoid that area and see how you get on, I had this happen last year and its a scary experience.
 
hello, I was having a similar problem then my diabetic nurse said to inject the lantus in the bum. Found the lantus was taking four or five hours to start then it would work all in one hit like my apidra.
 
I would go with injection sites being the issue, given the unusual pain in your leg. It's possible to get build ups of rapid acting insulin stuck in pockets of over used injection sites. This can later be released and cause a hypo. Alternatively, if you are regularly using compromised sites that can lead to a falsely low carb ratio. In that case, using a good injection site can cause a hypo.

The Lantus explanation could be valid too, I don't know much about that. I never had problems with Lantus myself but others report significant problems.
 
Thank you all for your advice. This has never happened to me before but really frightened me.

My lantus hasn't ever given me this kind of problem before so I am thinking that it might be my novorapid. I have a bruise where it went in and it is still tender -- it is also a common place I use for my injections so definitely will move it around more.

I guess it's a good reminder that you can't be complacent with diabetes!
 
I've been diagnosed since December so if it is poor absorption, it has happened quicker than I anticipated!!
 
download_zpsjoccynng.jpg

use a different site every injection :)

plus loads of room on one's bum too :D
 
asyarlk said:
I've been diagnosed since December so if it is poor absorption, it has happened quicker than I anticipated!!
Click to expand...


Probably not the case then, sometimes there's no rhyme or reason why bg levels can suddenly drop low, just keep an eye on things but don't let last night's episode get you down, but do keep rotating your injection sites to avoid future problems.
 
Hi to be honest if it's a one off it could be almost anything. The meal could have not been quite 20g, if you've done exercise over the last few days that might make you absorb your insulin quicker, if you were anxious you could drop. It might be to do with your honeymoon period as well although I don't remember mine so take that suggestion with a pinch of salt. To be honest the list goes on.. Don't worry though you do learn to expect the unexpected as a type 1 Diabetic!

Matt
 
Maybe the needle went into a blood vessel or muscle so was absorbed differently causing the hypo? I injected the other day and when I took the needle out lots of blood squirted out and then I got a hard lump and a big bruise the next day... Did abit of research and my conclusion was I hit a blood vessel x
 
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