Insulin Overdose: Symptoms, Treatment For Overdose Of Insulin

The commonest problem with insulin overdose is hypoglycemia. Accidental Insulin overdose is observed in patients who are taking insulin therapy for diabetes.

Insulin Overdose

At times insulin overdose can prove fatal; therefore patients who are on insulin therapy should be careful while adjusting the insulin dose.

Insulin is available in various strengths; it is short acting insulin, intermediate acting insulin and long acting insulin. It is the short acting or rapid acting insulin which is responsible to cause various symptoms of an overdose.

Overdose Of Insulin

An overdose of insulin can be due to various factors.

Excessive insulin dose.
Mismatched meal timings.
Unusual vigorous exercise.
Impaired ability of responding hypoglycemia due to deficiency of glucagon or adrenalin response.

Symptoms Of Insulin Overdose

Signs and symptoms of insulin overdose: it gives rise to low blood sugar. The symptoms arises when the blood glucose level decreases to 50 -60 mg/dl.

Excessive perspiration
Extreme hunger.
Dizziness, weakness, lethargy etc.
Blurred vision.
Change in behavior.
Loss of coordination.
Confusion in time and space.
Slurred speech.
Convulsion.
Patient slipping into coma.

It is very important for a person taking insulin to know symptoms and signs of overdose. An early recognition can abort the crises of insulin over dose.

Treatment For Insulin Overdose

Patient should always carry sugar with him or a sugar candy if he is on insulin therapy.
As soon as he experiences the symptoms of lethargy or sweating, he should consume sugar or glucose.
If the fall is more he has to be hospitalized.
The nursing staff will examine his blood sugar, and he may require intravenous glucose to raise the blood glucose level.
Other symptoms may be treated symptomatically by the treating doctor.

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Insulin Overdose: Symptoms, Treatment For Overdose Of Insulin