SICK--Too Much Insulin?

[valc3]

Really, really sick this time. Fever, cough and it feels like a 300lb monkey is sitting on my chest. Sleep alot, drinking fluids, no appetite, but still eating a little. BG has been way up there. Testing alot. I've been correcting (sometimes I think it's nothing but water, seems like it does nothing)Here's my question(finally)can you take too much insulin. My bg isn't coming down and I'm getting nervous about the amount of insulin. I'm correcting every 4 hrs. Bg still high 200's. Hope this makes sense

[Lex4153]

I'm sooo glad you brought this up. I actually wanted to ask. when I was diagnosed ten years ago, I was told to NOT take insulin if I was sick. I can't remember why. Is this still true or is this outdated?

I'm so sorry you're sick. I don't know the answer, wish I could help! Hope you feel better.

[Penny]

:vollkomme Really, really sick this time. Fever, cough and it feels like a 300lb monkey is sitting on my chest. Sleep alot, drinking fluids, no appetite, but still eating a little. BG has been way up there. Testing alot. I've been correcting (sometimes I think it's nothing but water, seems like it does nothing)Here's my question(finally)can you take too much insulin. My bg isn't coming down and I'm getting nervous about the amount of insulin. I'm correcting every 4 hrs. Bg still high 200's. Hope this makes sense

Gee Val, it sounds awful! That gorilla was at my house last week, but only stayed 2 days. I also had high BS during the whole time, but just injected when I ate, which wasn't often. It didn't seem to help to inject more, and I didn't go higher when I didn't. The only thing that helped at all was sipping water and crunching ice all day anmd most of the night as I couldn't breathe when I tried to lie down to sleep. I did manage to sleep some, propped up in the recliner. I hope you can find something to let you rest, as that seems to be the only thing that gets that gorilla up and moving someplace else. Also try eating the hot pickles or peppers, it not only helps a bit to ease the chest, but is supposed to lower BS. :vollkomme

[JediSkipdogg]

Sorry to hear that val. THe answer is really no. You can never take too much insulin, however, you can take too much insulin in one location. Therefore if you find yourself taking alot, just try to rotate your sites alot.

I'm sooo glad you brought this up. I actually wanted to ask. when I was diagnosed ten years ago, I was told to NOT take insulin if I was sick. I can't remember why. Is this still true or is this outdated?

I'm so sorry you're sick. I don't know the answer, wish I could help! Hope you feel better.

That is true but outdated. Here's the theory behind that answer. In the old days you fed the insulin. You gave insulin and were forced to eat. Well, if you didn't eat, the insulin dropped you like a rock. This was especially true on NPH and the dreaded peak of it.

Now days, that statement is not true. If you are on Lantus or something similar that is a peakless long acting insulin, you need that insulin. Otherwise you will be risking adding high BGs to being sick, which could put one in extreme DKA and put you right in the hospital. Then with short acting insulins like Humalog, you take those before you eat and you dose to what you eat. Therefore, if you don't eat, you don't take that insulin.

So the answer is true but not, it depends on what insulin regimen one is on currently. Older insulins you ate to feed the insulin, not eating took you low, so the solution was don't give any. Now days you give insulin to feed the food, so if you don't eat, you just don't give the insulin and no harm done.

A key word of advince when sick is test test test. Every hour if you have too, if your levels creep up near 400 while being sick and insulin won't do anything, go to the hospital. DKA can strike hard and fast while being sick. About 10 years ago I ended up in the ER from running over 1000 and being in DKA because I had bronchitis and my levels just kept going up no matter what I did. I thought my feeling like **** was from being sick, but it was being sick, being high, and being in DKA.

[kgm0612]

Hope you're feeling better today, Val.

[baby*red]

I always taken insulin- even when I'm sick. An occasional problem I've had is when I'm vomitting after giving insulin. Anti nausea (presciption kind!) helps a lot!

[BriOnH]

Hope you are feeling better Val.

[spike]

Really, really sick this time. Fever, cough and it feels like a 300lb monkey is sitting on my chest. Sleep alot, drinking fluids, no appetite, but still eating a little. BG has been way up there. Testing alot. I've been correcting (sometimes I think it's nothing but water, seems like it does nothing)Here's my question(finally)can you take too much insulin. My bg isn't coming down and I'm getting nervous about the amount of insulin. I'm correcting every 4 hrs. Bg still high 200's. Hope this makes sense


Hang in there! Hope you are feeling better by now and bg's are under control.

[MJM]

I'm a diabetic for 48 years now and have been on insulin all that time. I'm now using an insulin pump. It's important to always take your insulin even when sick as the body always needs insulin. I'm sorry to hear that you feel so unwell but before you stop taking your insulin always consult your doctor or diabetic nurse for advise. Hope the illness passes swiftly.
Did you check to see if the insulin is getting through to you?