Remember that the information presented here is not intended to replace the care of your own doctor. Before making any changes in the management of your own illness, you should consult your physician or other qualified medical professionals.
Question
I've had diabetes for 5 years, and am taking insulin 3 times a day (20 units). What to do if I missed a shot before the meal? Should I take it after the meal (2-3 hours)? Should I skip it? What if my
blood sugar
(after 3 hours) is still very high (300) after insulin and a meal? Should I take an "extra" shot of 10-20 units?
Answer
Everyone forgets their insulin shots once in a while. Missing a
mealtime shot of rapid-acting insulin (such as
Humalog,
Novolog,
Apidra,
or Regular) is no big deal if you remember very soon after the meal -- most doctors would advise taking the shot a bit late. But the longer
the time after the meal, the more complicated things get -- depends on what your blood sugar is doing, and whether you are also taking a "basal" insulin or diabetes pills.
If your blood sugar is still quite high several hours after eating, a supplemental injection of rapid-acting insulin would
be wise, but the exact amount should be worked out with your diabetes team in advance, or by telephoning them when you discover the elevated level.
Please note that rarely, the mealtime shots in some patients might consist of longer-lasting insulin such as NPH, in which case the advice of what to
do would be different!
Be sure to discuss this issue with your physician or diabetes nurse educator soon. They should help you develop a plan
to use, just in case it happens again (and someday it will).
wwq
Return to DQ&A main page
|
|
|
