In most people, a blood sugar increase with a meal results in insulin secretion from the pancreas. This hormone helps glucose enter the cells of the body, where it is used as fuel. In a diabetic person, however, the effects of naturally occurring insulin are not present. If you are diabetic, you may take insulin to keep your blood sugar levels normal, but too much insulin will result in hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.
Neurological Symptoms
Your brain requires glucose to function normally, so a decrease in blood glucose can cause neurological disturbances. The most common neurological symptoms are confusion or difficulty concentrating on tasks. More severe symptoms can include seizures and loss of consciousness if the blood glucose level is very low. If you take insulin and develop neurological symptoms, you should check your blood glucose immediately. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, you should take glucose tablets or gel or drink 1/2 cup of fruit juice or one cup of milk if your blood glucose is below 70 mg. Recheck your blood glucose 15 minutes later to ensure that the level is above 70 mg.
Shakiness
Symptoms such as shakiness, dizziness and sweating are common symptoms of low blood sugar related to insulin overdose. In some cases, these symptoms will be the first sign that you took too much insulin. Some people, however, may not experience these symptoms and can be asymptomatic until they lose consciousness. This is known as hypoglycemia unawareness, and it occurs when you have intermittent episodes of low blood sugar over an extended period of time. According to the American Diabetes Association, this is more likely to occur if you have nerve damage or have difficulty controlling your blood glucose.
Hunger
A sensation of hunger occurs with low blood sugar as your body's way of encouraging you to eat something to help raise your blood glucose level. Unfortunately, if you have taken an insulin overdose, it may require a significant amount of sugar to increase your blood glucose levels, and injectable forms of glucose may be necessary. For this reason, if you suspect that you have taken an overdose of insulin, you should consult a physician immediately, and in most cases you will need to receive treatment at a hospital. It is never a good idea to drive after taking too much insulin because the symptoms of low blood glucose can occur quickly, and losing consciousness while driving could prove fatal to both you and others on the road.
