Insulin Hoarding: Understanding and Preventing the Practice
In the management of diabetes, insulin plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels. This hormone, produced by the pancreas, helps prevent blood sugars from spiking after meals and keeps them within typical ranges. However, it's essential to use insulin correctly to avoid complications.
One such complication is insulin stacking, also known as overcorrecting or over-bolusing. This occurs when a person uses rapid-acting insulin multiple times at close intervals, leading to an excessive amount of insulin in the body. This can result in low blood sugar levels, a condition known as hypoglycemia, which can be dangerous for people with diabetes.
Insulin begins to work within roughly 15 minutes, peaks 1 hour after administration, and may last up to 4 hours. To avoid insulin stacking, it is important to carefully time insulin doses to allow the previous dose to act fully. A person may not need a corrective dose until at least 3 hours since their last dose.
Factors that may contribute to a delay in insulin absorption include using insulin that is too cold, over-using the same injection site, and cigarette smoking. To mitigate these issues, it's recommended to store insulin properly, rotate injection sites, and avoid smoking.
There are multiple ways to administer insulin, including needle and syringe, pen injector, and other methods. The method chosen may depend on various factors such as lifestyle, insurance, and preferences. Smart technology, such as continuous glucose monitors and smart insulin pens, can help manage blood sugars and remind a person when it is time for the next dose.
Insulin pumps can deliver either a continuous infusion or separate bursts of insulin when necessary and may include a bolus calculator. These devices can be particularly useful in preventing insulin stacking, as they can adjust insulin delivery based on current insulin activity and lifestyle factors.
Maintaining awareness of insulin on board (active insulin) and using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can help manage dosing safely. Best practices include confirming the timing and amount of prior insulin before administering more, using insulin pumps with features that reduce basal delivery during exercise to prevent overlapping insulin action and lows, and avoiding insulin stacking to prevent rapid swings from high to low blood glucose.
Anyone who frequently experiences hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic events should contact their doctor as soon as possible. Keeping notes on sugar fluctuations may help people identify patterns in their blood glucose levels. It is important to avoid insulin stacking by following the correct guidelines on administering insulin, such as using appropriate doses and leaving enough time between them.
In summary, insulin stacking raises the risk of low blood sugar due to overlapping insulin effects, and avoiding it relies on dose timing, careful blood glucose monitoring, and adjusting insulin delivery based on current insulin activity and lifestyle factors. By following these guidelines, people living with diabetes can effectively manage their condition and reduce the risk of complications.
- Science has unveiled that chronic diseases like diabetes require proper insulin management to regulate hyperglycemia, a condition characterized by high levels of blood sugar.
- In health-and-wellness, mental-health, and fitness-and-exercise, managing diabetes necessitates adhering to correct insulin administration to prevent complications like hypoglycemia.
- Nutrition plays a crucial role in diabetes management; however, to avoid dangerous hypoglycemic events, people with diabetes should avoid insulin stacking, a condition that results from overusing rapid-acting insulin.
- To manage diabetes effectively, therapies-and-treatments like insulin pumps, smart technology, and continuous glucose monitors can help prevent insulin stacking and aid in the safe management of blood sugar levels.
- CBD, a popular natural remedy in health-and-wellness, has shown potential in helping manage diabetes symptoms and may play a role in maintaining stable blood sugar levels by interacting with the endocannabinoid system, but more research is needed to confirm its benefits and optimal dosage.
