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Updated: Dec 31, 2025

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
Inadvertent iatrogenic insulin detemir 1000 units overdose in a hospitalised patient
Sudan Thapa1, Germin Fahim2, Sudha Ganne3
1Internal Medicine, Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, New Jersey, USA sudanthapa@hotmail.com.
Abstract:
A 69-year-old woman with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus was admitted in the hospital for the management of urosepsis. Patient was overdosed with detemir insulin 1000 units inadvertently. Care provider was confused with volume and dose of the insulin by using insulin vial. Blood sugars were monitored closely every 30 min-1 hour for 24 hours. Patient was treated with dextrose 5% and 10% continuous infusion; and hydrocortisone 75 mg every 6 hours for 24 hours. The lowest blood sugar reached was 142 mg/dL (7.9 mmo/L). Patient did not develop hypoglycaemia. Proper safety measures and mandatory nurse education about administration of insulin were implemented to prevent future occurrences.
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