Guest guest Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 Hi guys! The reason I'm still up at this late hour is because of a problem I had this evening with my Humalog pen insulin injector. I've NEVER had anything happen like this before, and wonder if anyone else that uses the Humalog pen ever has, because this incident could have been fatal if I hadn't been as attentive as I was. Right before dinner with my family, I injected 15 units of Humalog to cover for the meal we were going to have. The injector didn't make the usual " click " sound that it usually does when I shot myself, but I wasn't overly concerned because it doesn't " always " make that sound. I also didn't feel any sting from the insulin, but I don't always feel it sting, either.....so at that point everything seemed okay. My after dinner BG test showed 384!!! Alarm bells go off in my head, and I realized that the insulin must not have been released from the cylinder. So now I have to inject again to cover the horrible BG, which normally would have been in the 90-110 range. So I dial up 14 units of Humalog in the pen, and as a precaution, read the cylinder on the side to see how much insulin still remains in the tube. It looks like there's about 136-138 units left. So I shoot my 14 units, then check the amount remaining in the cylinder....and it's gone down to 120 units!!! That's 29 units of insulin injected, meaning that somehow the insulin from the first, nonfunctioning injection remained stuck in side there somehow and was then forced out with the second, later injection. I absolutely freaked, knowing that if that was what really happened, that I was set up for what could be a fatal overdose. So I told all the kids what had happened, got out my glucogon syringe and instructed on how to use it. Fortunately, piped up and told her not to worry, if she didn't want to inject me if I went unconscious, he would, he used to have to do it all the time for his aunt. After the instructions and telling the kids I'd try to avoid that scenario by checking my BG's every 30 minutes, we went back to our Scrabble game. Since I was 3rd in points, I knew I had to do some fancy spelling to catch up! In less than an hour, my BG had dropped 200 units, so we knew that what we feared had happened, actually DID. I started checking every 15 minutes, because my sugar was dropping fast, going from 150 to 70 in less than 20 minutes. At 70, I started sipping on orange juice. Fifteen minutes later it was down to 54, I drank 8 ounces of Mountain Dew, and within 15 minutes it was down at 52. So I drank another 6 ounces of orange juice, then it was 56. One more glass of orange juice, and the next check was 70, thank goodness. and wouldn't go to bed until I'd done another check 15 minutes later to make sure it was going up, and it had gone to 74. I assured them that I'd get some more to bring it up a good bit over 100, since mine always drops during the night....well, morning, now....to cover that drop. If I go to bed with it around 130, it will be down around 90 when I wake in the morning. We averted what could have been a fatal overdose, and I'm angry as &*## that this could have happened. If I hadn't been as alert and attentive as I was, something horrible could have happened, and I know there are many times when people just aren't that alert to things like this. There should be some sort of safety system with those pens so that a double dose wouldn't be released. I just wonder if anything like this has ever happened to anyone else who uses the pen injectors? Going to bed now, finally, after a bad scare. It took me a while to think about it and get it off my chest. If anyone's still awake to read this, hope you get some sleep and have a better day tomorrow. That means YOU, Jerry! With love, hope and prayers, Heidi Heidi H. Griffeth SC State & SE Regional Representative Pancreatitis Association, International Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and should not be substituted for professional medical consultation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 I had to look over my shoulder after I read that. Thank you Heidi. Jerry/NC *************************************** > > Hi guys! > > > Going to bed now, finally, after a bad scare. It took me a while > to think about it and get it off my chest. If anyone's still awake > to read this, hope you get some sleep and have a better day tomorrow. > That means YOU, Jerry! > > With love, hope and prayers, > Heidi > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 I hope this finds you well and happy this morning. Thank goodness you discovered the error and have such loving and loyal family as to watch over you with such concern. Theresa > Hi guys! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 Heidi, OH MY GOSH! SO sorry to hear this but am glad you are better. I have no words of advice for you as I don't use insulin, but I just had to write to tell you I can't believe what happened. I'd be calling the manufacturer of the pen to see what they have to say. Take care of yourself. Sandy in Ca -------------- Original message -------------- Hi guys! The reason I'm still up at this late hour is because of a problem I had this evening with my Humalog pen insulin injector. I've NEVER had anything happen like this before, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Heidi, that is certainly a very scary thing to have happen. I don't use the pens, just regular syringes, but that's mainly because that's all that was available when I was diagnosed in 1981 and now I'm so used to doing it, I haven't thought to change to the pens. I'm glad you were aware of this and were able to avert a disaster. Hope you don't have any more problems with the pens. You might want to contact the manufacturer of that particular type of pen and warn them that this can happen. Kimber -- Kimber Vallejo, CA hominid2@... Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed physician or health care professional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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