Resolved question:
Dear doctor,
I am a diabetes patient who witnessed really abnormal sugar levels in my blood. Today morning the sugar level was 180 mg/dl. I thought of taking a test by taking 3 Novolin-R units to bring it down to normal. After taking it, I haven’t eaten anything. After 2 hours, to my surprise, my blood sugar level shot up to a whopping 214 mg/dl. It increased by 34mg/dl. I took 3 units of Novolin, thinking that it is a corrective dose, which can bring sugar levels by 25mg/dl per unit. But what happened was just a reversal of my expectation. Why this happens so? Am I affected with something else? Please help me out from this dangerous situation.
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Community
Hi, Thanks for your question. Let me see how best I can help you with this. First of all, insulin will NOT increase sugar levels. It only decreases. I suspect that you need more insulin than what you take as of now. Regarding the disappointing test you have done, I would like to say something more. R insulin may not work or even show its onset on the first 30 minutes to 1 hour after consuming it. It may not even show its peak within 2-5 hours. Insulin works well and better when the injection is done in certain places. Falling of direct sunlight on the spot of insulin injection also should be prevented. It should also be noted that insulin which underwent long shelf life may not be of good quality. So, before using insulin, make sure that it is under normal expiry period. You can also use some rapid acting insulin by taking Humalog, Novolog and Aprida rather than R. Rapid acting insulin is more effective, as they work more or less like natural insulin. Moreover, it starts working within 10 minutes from application and will last about 4-5 hours. Peak time of action will be in one hour. Wish you a healthy life. Stay young.