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Given insulin in hospital

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nan2212
nan2212

Recently I was admitted to the hospital overnight for something not related to diabetes. I gave them my medication list when I was admitted. It included Metformin which I take 3 times a day. I was shocked when the nurse gave me a shot of insulin instead of Metformin. Has this happened to anyone else? I was concerned as I have been able to manage my diabetes without insulin. The staff doctor told me to go back on my regular meds at home. It has been a week and I am having trouble keeping my glucose levels where they were before. They have been running around 180 instead of 140. I don't want to become dependent on insulin. Any advice?

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • gill70346
    gill70346 nan2212

    Posted

    Nan, 

    about 2 years ago something similar happened to me. I have diabetes and was on  metformin when I was admitted to hospital with a mini stroke. A nurse tried to give me insulin but I refused to have it without an explanation as to why which the nurse could not give. I spoke to my GP later and it was apparently suggested because my blood glucose levels were a lot higher than they should be and indeed 3 months later I did have to go onto insulin in addition to the metformin. The big problem was that bcause I was on metformin and therefore not testing regularly (relying on bi-annual checks at GP) my BG levels had gone very high without me knowing. 

    Do you regularly check your blood glucose levels, or has your GP said not to?

     

    • nan2212
      nan2212 gill70346

      Posted

      Hi Gill, thanks for your reply. Yes I do test my glucose levels once or twice a day, usually about 3 hours after eating. I try to keep it under 140 which I can normally do with careful diet. But I was surprised that they gave me an insulin injection in the hospital (also without any explanation). My main concern now is that I do not want to become dependent on insulin. But I am having trouble bringing it down to what it was before and wondering if the insulin is already causing me to become dependent. I will keep working in it. Take care of yourself.
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