What Happens if You Overdose on Insulin?

An estimated 8% of the population in the United States suffer from diabetes. Diabetics take insulin to help regulate their glucose, and it's important to take the right dosage to be healthy. Everyone knows that too little insulin is bad, but did you know that an insulin overdose is even more harmful? Do you know what happens if you overdose on insulin? Read on to discover more about the possible effects and symptoms.

What is Insulin?
Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas, which regulates glucose content in the blood. The human body needs a quantity of glucose continuously in the day, which comes from the food people eat. So if the glucose levels are high in the body, insulin provokes liver, muscles and fat cells into storing the excess insulin for later use. It also urges the fat cells to turn fatty acids into fats, and the liver and kidney cells to turn amino acids into proteins.

Why is Insulin Needed?
Without insulin, glucose remains in the blood and cannot be processed by the cells. So the body loses out on its energy source. Lack of insulin causes diabetes, of which there are two types. Type 1 diabetes is a complete lack of insulin production in the body. Hence, no matter how much food is eaten, the body is always starving as the cells cannot convert the glucose into energy. Type 1 diabetics require insulin shots at intervals to help the cells convert the glucose. Type 2 diabetes is a more prevalent diabetes condition than Type 1. The body becomes immune to insulin, due to overproduction. So the cells respond slowly to extracting energy from glucose, and stores it as fat instead.

How to Take Insulin?
Insulin is taken as an injection or shot. A doctor, nurse or pharmacist, will provide instructions on the correct way and where to inject the medicine. It is important to understand the injection procedure properly, and how to dispose of used needles and syringes. Keep insulin containers out of reach of children and pets.

How Can Overdose of Insulin Occur?
Now let us have a look at what all can lead to an overdose of insulin.

• If you did not read the syringe or vials, or are using a new product, you could have injected too much.
• There are two types of insulin available, short and long acting. You could have injected the wrong type
• You did not eat after taking the insulin shot. The injection must be timed with meals.
• Excessive exercising and dieting
• Some high blood pressure medications and appetite suppressants can affect dosage

What Happens if You Overdose on Insulin?
The dosage of insulin is based on the patient's needs, and should not be taken lightly. The onset of insulin overdose symptoms typically occurs when blood glucose levels drop below 70 mg/dL. The following are some effects:

Hypoglycemia: An overdose of insulin can cause a hypoglycemic reaction, which is low blood sugar. The symptoms are:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Concentration difficulty
• Fainting
• Weakness
• Tremors
• Sweating or clammy skin
• Trembling hands
• Hunger pangs
• Nausea
• Tingling sensations in tongue and lips
• Seizures

Low Blood Potassium: A drop in blood potassium (hypokalemia) can cause fatigue, constipation and irregularity of heartbeat. It also affects the muscles.
Respiratory Problems: Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a serious effect of insulin overdose, where the lungs get inflamed and the amount of oxygen received by the body reduces.
Nervous System Problems: The central nervous system slows down and so sleepiness, abnormal gait and speech, and impaired thinking occur. If it continues for some time, a coma can be induced.

What to Do if You Overdose?
If you have an overdose at home, some quick insulin overdose treatment steps are:

1. Take a glucose tablet or drink to provide a quick sugar dose to the body
2. Eat or drink glucose-rich foods or beverages, like fruit juice, milk, honey, soft drinks, hard candy, etc. They can be quickly absorbed into the blood stream
3. Keep a glucagon injection kit for insulin reactions
4. Take rest and observe your sugar levels
5. If you have symptoms after two hours or your sugar level remains low, seek medical help

If you have lost consciousness, then friends or family around you, should call 911. Do not attempt to feed or make the patient drink or inject glucagon, when the diabetic is unconscious. Make a note of the time of the attack. If you are a diabetic, keep some hard candy or sugary food with you at all times. Alert your family members and friends about what happens if you overdose on insulin, and discuss what steps should taken by them, in case you faint or are too groggy. If you are prone to violent seizures, keep a card or wear a diabetic collar, so even if something happens outside, people can help you.