This morning I took my Lantus as usual, but about an hour later I was shaking severely, nauseated, and my heart was pounding like crazy. I could barely speak, and it was hard to think. There's no way I would have been able to walk to another room to get help.
I checked my blood sugar, which wasn't easy because the shakes were so severe. My blood sugar was 3.0 and dropping fast! (54 in US scale). Yes I was in insulin shock.
No idea why it happened except that I must have hit a vein. I didn't see any blood, and there was no vein visible where I injected, but I can't think of any other explanation. I must have nicked something. It was not a new cartridge and I dialed up the right dose.
I didn't accidentally inject my mealtime insulin (that pen records the dose and time, and it hadn't been used since yesterday). So not the wrong insulin.
I didn't inject too much. Just the usual dose in the usual area and suddenly I'm in big trouble.
Fortunately my husband was there and got my glucose tablets out, and helped me get my meter out. I couldn't even open the kit.
I also had him get out my glucogon kit, just in case. I really thought he was going to have to use it this time, it was so bad and so sudden. The glucose tablets just weren't working fast enough.
Insulin shock is nasty. I survived another day, but its still rough. It usually takes me 3 or 4 days to get over this type of thing. I felt NO symptoms until it was severe, no warning at all. If my blood sugar goes down from getting a little too much mealtime insulin, it usually happens slowly and I can feel it coming on and test and treat it. Not this time. I was suddenly so weak and confused that I couldn't manage the stupid zipper on the kit. I needed assistance.
Normally 1 glucose tablet will bring my blood sugar up enough, but this time I had to keep forcing them down, it took about 12 to 14 tablets, plus a glass of Tang, (I keep Tang powder on hand just for emergencies in case I can't keep the tablets down).
I didn't take any insulin until late today for supper, and believe me, I was very reluctant to use it.
If you use insulin PLEASE keep Dex4 tabs on hand at all times. Have at least one large bottle, and make sure its already been opened because at times like this you won't have the strength to get it opened. I keep them in the kitchen, beside my bed, and in the living room beside my chair. If I hadn't been prepared, I'd probably be dead now. My husband wouldn't have been able to hunt them down in time.
Fortunately I was prepared.
I'm going to be getting some liquid glucose, and gel too, the dry tablets keep well, but in this type of emergency they're too hard to chew and swallow.
Please get yourself some glucose tabs, plus gel or liquid, and a glucogon kit too, someday it may save your life.
If you need a quick increase in glucose, glucose tablets are the best option, however, in an emergency, if you are not prepared, you can use Lifesaver candies, or orange juice, or regular pop (NOT the sugar free kind!). You can even eat regular table sugar, but its a lot easier to use glucose tablets, and if you carry them, you'll know you're always prepared.
When you get a glucogon kit make sure someone knows how to use the kit, besides yourself!
PS. I 've heard that some of the tube icing for cake decorating is made from glucose. I'm going to be checking that out, because I'm sure it would be a lot cheaper than the glucose gel tubes at the pharmacy. Look for icing that has a peel away tab after you unscrew the cap. Some require using a pair of scissors to snip off the end of the tube. This is not something you need to worry about in an emergency! Either way, I'm going to have at least 2 gel tubes in each location, just in case, in addition to the tablets.
New Mini-Dose Glucagon kit coming soon!
http://www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/2014/12/update-mini-dose-glucagon-coming-soon/
Standard treatment for Low Blood Sugar http://www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes-control/low-blood-sugars/treatment
Update: I did hit a vein, I developed had a huge bruise where I did that injection, lots of bleeding under the skin, and it has not cleared up yet (it's been over a month).
