The overuse of insulin can be harmful to your body. If you use more insulin than you need, it can cause dangerous health problems. Here are some common mistakes people make with their insulin pumps:
Losing track of expiration dates
Expired insulin is not as bad as many people make it out to be. It can still be used, but you should use it with caution and monitor your blood sugar carefully. The FDA has determined that the potency of insulin does not degrade over time; however, the preservative (sulfites) may become inactive after the expiration date passes. If your vial or box of pen needles has been stored for a long time, throw out anything expired.
Double-check your dose
The first thing you should do when preparing your insulin supplies is check your blood sugar. If it’s too high or you have been sick and have a fever, it’s best to postpone any insulin injections until after the illness has passed. Double-check that the reservoir is full before starting if you’re using a pump. This will help ensure that there aren’t any interruptions in supply because of this error.
Using expired insulin
Insulin lasts for about six months, but the time that it remains effective can vary depending on the type and how you store it. For example, if your insulin has expired, you may have to replace it with a new vial or syringe. You can’t tell if your insulin is still good by looking at the bottle or packaging because they don’t have expiration dates printed on them. However, expired insulin will probably be less effective than when it was fresh out of its package and hasn’t been exposed to temperature extremes during storage.
If you’re on a pump, not checking your batteries regularly.
If you’re on a pump, not checking your batteries regularly. If you have a wireless insulin pump, you’ll want to ensure that the remote control batteries are checked and changed as needed. Even if they look full, there is no way to know what’s going on until it’s too late and your pump isn’t working correctly and needs to be replaced with another one. Batteries can die unexpectedly, and they can be expensive to replace.
Overpacking your insulin kit.
When packing your insulin kit, it’s important to remember that insulin is a prescription drug. This means that you should never pack more than what you’re allowed by law to have on hand at any given time. The exact amount of insulin allowed varies based on the type and strength of your medication. Still, in general, most people can carry up to three weeks’ worth of supplies when traveling domestically or internationally.
Not checking your supplies regularly.
You should check your supplies at least once a month. Look at the expiration dates on the bottles, ensure they’re current, and count the number of units in each bottle. If you don’t do this, you’ll run out of insulin before you know it!
According to Tandem Diabetes, “Even with advanced systems such as the t: slim X2 insulin pump with Control-IQ technology, you are still responsible for actively managing your diabetes.” So, apart from these tips, you should follow a balanced lifestyle.
If you’re on a pump, not checking your batteries regularly. If you’re using syringes and vials, it’s important to ensure that the insulin hasn’t expired. It’s also crucial to check your supplies before every use to avoid getting caught off guard when a dose is missed because there was no insulin available.
