Insulin Overdose Causes
- Individual needs
This is because insulin dosages vary from person to person. A dose that might be normal for one person could be high for another.
- Timing
Insulin requirements also vary through the day; morning breakfast, for instance, could require a higher unit than afternoon mealtimes. This could be due to a number of reasons: there may already be a certain quantity of insulin in the body, or the person may have exercised or been physically active, or vice versa.
Types of Insulin
- Basal
It helps to understand that there are two broad types of insulin: basal—a long-lasting dose that stays in the body for a greater period of time, ensuring that blood sugar levels remain steady; and bolus—a kind of booster dose that is required when there’s a surge in glucose, for instance, mealtimes.
Hypoglycemia Treatment
Mild hypoglycemia
Mild hypoglycemia can easily occur if a person makes a mistake in calculating insulin dose or simply eating less than they had anticipated—or not eating at all.
It can be quickly addressed in a few steps, as below
- Check BSL to determine if they have hypoglycemia—glucose levels below 70 mg/dl indicate hypoglycemia
If levels indicate hypoglycemia, quickly consumption, a fast-acting glucose drink, e.g. high sugar fruit juice, soda, candy or just a sugar lump
- If overdose has occurred because the person failed to eat, ensure they have their meal after consuming the glucose. This will raise the glucose in the blood, but steadily.
- Hypoglycemia can be disorienting. The person should therefore rest to allow the body some time to normalize
- Recheck blood sugar. About 15 minutes after doing the above, retake the blood sugar test to see if the steps above have worked. If symptoms still persist, and readings show that levels are still not normal, the person should be given medical treatment.
Severe Cases
If the person is unresponsive and unable to follow the above steps, apply some glucose gel, or honey, inside the cheek. If the person is comatose, do not put anything inside the mouth as it can cause choking.
How to Prevent Insulin Overdose?
The best way to prevent insulin overdose is to reduce the risks of making a mistake. The following actions can help keep you safe from the overdosing
- Read packaging information carefully.
If anything is not clear, speak to a doctor or pharmacist. - Double-check insulin type.
If you don’t organize doses properly and keep a record, it is easy to accidentally take a fast-acting bolus dose instead of basal. - Don’t skip meals.
Skipping meals can cause insulin overdose. If the fast-acting insulin is taken before the meal, be sure the meal is ready. Try sitting at the table to eat, before taking the dose.
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