Taking wrong insulin

My mum did that once! 30 units of novo instead of mixtard (which i don't think is an insulin anymore... ) I was 7 and thought it was the ebst day ever, when my mum took me to the shop, stood me in front of the sweets aisle and told me I could get anything I want. Stayed home from school that morning and was totally fine

I have not taken wrong insulin. But did get a misread when running a marathon - glucose gel on thumb. Said 29. So took 9 units of novorapid. Realised about 8 mins later that it was 3.5. Insulin works better when you run so I had ..... 14 gel shots (20g glucose) 5 bottles lucozade sport, 4 hike bars, 2 pure apple bars - my blood sugar stayed below 4 for 14 of the last 18 miles of the run. Got up to 7 when I finished - 4hr 34min. Next time no mistakes and ran 3 hr 40.

I took novorapid instead of lantus not long after diagnosis. I was only on about 2 units of novorapid per meal at the time so an 8 unit shot before bed wasn't great. Luckily my hubbie had bought himself a packet of 4 crunchie bars earlier that day and not eaten any of them

I have just took levemir instead of novorapid would it be okay to take novorapid aswell thanks

Oh yes, I’ve occasionally, very occasionally, mixed them up. The wasted time watching bloods and all the stuff eaten fades into history even though panic’s high in the moment.

parkinsonryan said:

I have just took levemir instead of novorapid would it be okay to take novorapid aswell thanks

Click to expand...

How much have you took by accident, if it's a small dose then I wouldn't worry too much just watch your blood sugars closely

My Mum for her last few years was in a care home where a District Nurse came to do her insulin injections 3 x times a day. I have lost count of the times where they either missed one out altogether or gave her an extra lunchtime dose of lantus when it should only have been novarapid. I had to accompany her to hospital because of this and sit there for hours whilst she was monitored.

This happened to me before!

Yes I was at work as security doing night shift and i was alone. Was the scariest thing ever

Yep. I'm a repeat offender - and I have different colour pens .... and I still get it wrong. It's usually the basal I double up on, and I have occasionally taken basal instead of quick-acting. Luckily they replaced my old Novopen Echo where my battery had run out on the little end thingy, and now I can check it and see time of last dose again. That's a help.

Compared to yesteryear when the only easy way was taping extra signage etc on the vials of insulin and use of an alarm clock in the house to help one remember when and what insulin was required, one would think that with all the modern tech available now that diabetes societies, insulin manufacturers, drug and device regulators etc would have worked out more reliable safegaurds for all insulins and pens etc. to prevent or minimise this trouble.
I am waiting for insulin vials, and pens to have a gadget attached which says: " you have taken some insulin out ( or injected this insulin) just 40 minutes ago.
Please check what you are doing".
A dalek-like voice might get more attention than others!