How To Ration Insulin

How To Ration

Insulin

**GUIDE NOT YET COMPLETE!

WARNING: this page is NOT medical advice. The author is NOT a medical professional. Rationing insulin should only be done in the most extreme of circumstances. Rationing your insulin (taking less than your body needs) is deadly. The advice that follows can lead to injury or death, and any action taken is at your own risk.

If you are already actively in DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) this guide will not help you. Please seek emergency medical treatment.

Who is this guide for?

This guide was created to help insulin-dependent diabetics who are forced to ration their insulin for a limited period of time.

This guide only works if you have insulin (at least some fast or long acting) and will not be helpful if you are already entirely out of insulin.

Maybe:

• you broke a vial at midnight but can’t get a replacement until the morning

• your pump broke and you don’t have any long acting insulin

• your town is recovering from a natural disaster and most of your insulin was destroyed

• you can’t afford your insulin and your friend can’t meet up with extra until later this week

If this sounds like you,

please read on—

Oh—who the hell am I and why should you listen to me?

I rationed insulin for nine months (don’t recommend) and write about diabetes.

You can learn more about who I am (linked here) my experience rationing (linked here) and check out what I write (linked here).

Rationing Goals

1. No DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis)

2. No infections

3. No serious lows*

4. Stay alive

5. Get insulin

*I realize this sounds weird, but I will explain

DKA Symptoms

According to Mayo Clinic:

“Diabetic ketoacidosis symptoms often come on quickly, sometimes within 24 hours... Symptoms might include:

• Being very thirsty

• Urinating often

• Feeling a need to throw up and

  throwing up

• Having stomach pain

• Being weak or tired

• Being short of breath

• Having fruity-scented breath

• Being confused

More certain signs of diabetic ketoacidosis — which can show up in home blood and urine test kits — include:

• High blood sugar level

• High ketone levels in urine”

If you are already actively in DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) this guide will not help you.

Please seek emergency medical treatment!!

Choose your own adventure through hell:

To be replaced with buttons:

• General guidelines

• I only have fast acting insulin

• I only have long acting insulin

• Is this insulin okay to use?

• Tips for switching insulins