Troubleshooting
Nobody's perfect. Everyone runs into problems with their diabetes care once in a while. Here's what to do after you say "oops!"
Too much insulin: If you give yourself too much insulin, check your blood glucose about every two hours for the rest of the day. (If it happens before bed, set an alarm clock or ask your parents to wake you every two hours to test during the night.) If you remember how many extra units you injected, eat the right amount of food to cover the extra amount. Watch for symptoms of low blood glucose, and treat the symptoms promptly. Don't forget to tell your parents!
Too little insulin:If you know right away (within 1 hour) that you didn't get enough insulin, give yourself another shot with the rest of the dose. If don't realize it until later, watch your blood glucose and ketone levels for the rest of the day. (For more on ketone levels, click here) If your ketone level is OK, try to get some extra exercise. And let your parents know.
I'm leaking! Sometimes insulin can leak out after your shot. If this happens, check your blood glucose more often during the day. With your parents' help, you may need to adjust a later insulin dose. If you have this problem a lot, try one or all of the following tips to prevent leaking. For more suggestions, talk to your doctor.
Push the plunger more slowly while injecting the insulin
Count to 5 or 10 after pushing in the plunger and before removing the needle
Check the angle of the needle (You may need to straighten it a little to a 90° angle)
- Check the injection site for lumpiness (If it's lumpy, choose another site)
Ugh! I just don't feel well! Feeling woozy, moody, or tired for no apparent reason? First, check your blood glucose. If it's too low (hypoglycemia), eat or drink something with carbs right away, like glucose tablets. When you start to feel better, eat a snack high in carbohydrates. If it's too high (hyperglycemia), you may want to plan some extra exercise. If your glucose is too high on a regular basis, talk to your parents about making some changes in your diabetes care. Also, keep in mind that getting sick, even with a cold, can make your blood glucose levels unpredictable.
