What happens when you take too much insulin?

Insulin is a hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating blood glucose levels. People with diabetes use insulin injections to either replace the missing insulin or help their body respond better to it. However, if you take too much insulin, it can have serious consequences on your health and well-being.

What is Insulin?

Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar levels in your body. It assists in transporting sugar from your bloodstream into muscles, liver cells and fat tissue for storage or energy.

Fun Fact: Did you know that insulin was first discovered in dogs? In 1921, two Canadian scientists Frederick Banting and Charles Best managed to extract the substance which became known as insulin.

How Does Insulin Work?

When we eat food containing carbohydrates (sugars), our digestive system breaks them down into glucose molecules. The glucose then enters our bloodstream where its levels are monitored by beta cells located in the pancreas.

If these beta cells detect an elevation of blood sugar beyond what’s considered normal (70-110 mg/dL), they release more insulin hormones to activate processes within bodily organs like muscle tissues so that they absorb available sugars hence reducing overall amounts of circulating glucose.

This way, when there’s excess carbohydrate intake during meals times or any other metabolic need requiring extra fuel supply – such as exercising- sufficient insulin presence will ensure proper distribution of this surplus fuel and stored appropriately without causing problems related to abnormal high concentration of sugars floating around inside your body at any given time.

Fun Fact: Did you know that some people with type one diabetes experience hypoglycemia after exercise due to an increase in sensitivity towards injected-insulins effect?

Types of Diabetes

There are basically three main types/types combinations of diabetes:

  • Type I diabetes
  • Type II diabetes
    • Gestational Diabetes
  • Double Diabetes

Too Much Insulin

When too much insulin is in your body, it can lead to a condition known as hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia occurs when your blood sugar levels fall below the normal range (less than 70 mg/dL).

Did you know: Some early symptoms of mild hypoglycemia include clumsy movements, slurred speech or feeling shaky?

Symptoms of Hypoglycemia

As glucose absorption declines with persisting insulin presence, insufficient fuel supply for muscles and organs typically leads to symptoms that occur within a short time frame:

  1. Shakiness
  2. Anxiety or irritability
  3. Dizziness or lightheadedness
  4. Sweating often cold and clammy skin
  5. Confusion (often disorientating)
  6. Hunger pangs – sometimes quite severe

In more severity cases additional worrying signs maybe present:

  • Loss of consciousness (coma)
  • Seizures

Note: Presence of above signs may vary from person to person depending on overall health status, age bracket group etc.

If left untreated for long periods while still experiencing new episodes especially after meals times , recurrent lows episodes (within days/ week) could possibly develop into unaware-hypo-glycaemic syndrome which results from reduced sensitivity towards recognizable low symptom signals; hence more prone fainting spells leading up accidents- vehicle crashes are topmost concern.

Causes Of Too Much Insulin

Several factors contribute to too much insulin being in the bloodstream:

  1. Overdose on Insulin injections: Taking too much insulin over an extended period could be detrimental-trigger unwanted episode occurrences.
    2alcoholic beverages Consumption without snacks during nights out featuring alcoholic beverages substantially lowers blood glucose overnight which prompts hormone release(ATG). Low Blood Glucose Symptoms commonly interfere with sleep patterns-necessitating imbalanced medication regulation in such instances.
  2. Physical activity: Increased physical activity will enhance muscular sugar uptake leading to greater overall demand for insulin action.
  3. Delayed meal time(s): In cases where supper or lunch is delayed, blood sugars have prolonged time in circulation before the next meal which prompts early onset of post-meal hypoglycemia despite regular dosage regimes.

How To Treat Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia needs swift attention once it occurs:

Step 1: Take rapid-acting glucose supplement –15grams minimum – this can include naturally occurring simple sugars from hard candies (take about three/four), a low-fat cereal bar or just a small glass of fruit juice as possible ingestion option

Step 2: Wait 10-30 minutes and measure your blood sugar if you have testing materials available

Step 3: Assess symptoms improvement status within the next hour . Repeat step one if need be.

Note: If more than two doses required within the space of an hour, Reach out to your medical professional regarding potential medication update advice that’s compatible delaying such scenarios in future.

Prevention Tips

There are several ways to prevent hypoglycemia:

  1. Proper injection administration and regulation
    2.abstaining excessive alcohol consumption
    3.timely meals intake
    4.Moderate physical activities done regularly while noting any triggers thereafter adjusting accordingly
    5.Use Blood monitoring strips for checks at intervals during potentially challenging times – like long drives /intense workouts/travelling etc.

As someone who lives with type II diabetes,hypoglycaemic episodes may occur occasionally due to factors beyond personal control hence awareness is key!

Anecdote Corner

My worst experience occurred on an international flight when I missed breakfast due to late preparation & security check queues –When lunchtime came around, there was too much carbohydrate-rich food not suited for me – eventually prompting some really unpleasant signs like dizziness & fatigue.

I reached out to the crew who were very knowledgeable and took quick action, providing me with an unsweetened apple juice carton and a snack containing some energy-boosting nuts resulting in swift stabilization.

Moral of the Story — take appropriate measures wherever possible even while far away from home!

Conclusion

Too much insulin can lead to hypoglycemia which is dangerous for your health. The best way to treat it is by consuming rapid-acting glucose supplements, measuring blood sugar levels after 10-30 minutes, and assessing symptoms improvement status within next hour before taking another dose if needed

Prevention tips include proper regulation of injections or timing meals intake (with regular moderate physical activities). If symptoms persist frequentlyget medical attention as soon/possible due adjustments maybe required.

So always be proactive regarding how you manage your eating habits/schedule – with information at hand; it’s easy (and fun) to keep on top of things without suffering nasty hypos starting today!.

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