| Subject: |
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Insulin overdoses due to wrong syringe use in hospitals/MD offices |
| Name: |
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Claudia |
| Date Posted: |
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Aug 15, 06 - 9:14 PM |
| IP Address: |
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70.127.203.48 |
| Email: |
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cfrench180@tampabay.rr.com |
| Website: |
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http://www.psa.state.pa.us/psa/lib/psa/advisories/pa-psrs_supplementary_advisory_v1_s1.pdf |
| Message: |
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http://www.psa.state.pa.us/psa/lib/psa/advisories/pa-psrs_supplementary_advisory_v1_s1.pdf
Some hospitals are now trying to make a policy of allowing inpatients with diabetes to administer their own insulin....they are finally realizing that this will cut down on errors in administration doses, timing issues etc. (though some are being very condescending about it all).
In this pdf (see website link above) is a report of something everyone should be aware of if you are hospitalized. The use of wrong type of syringes to administer insulin resulting in overdoses of insulin. I can tell you that these syringes compared are the ones used at my hospital, and do indeed look very similar. To a new or untrained staff RN or doctor's assistant, they could easily be mixed up when administering insulin.
If you are hospitalized.....and not allowed to administer your own insulin, BE SURE TO CHECK THE SYRINGE with the insulin drawn up, that is brought in by the RN. Make sure it is an insulin syringe with the correct dose of insulin in it. Make sure the syringe is NOT a tuberculin (TB) syringe which measures in ml and NOT in units, which will result in an overdose. If you have any doubts or concerns about the insulin or the syringe used...you have the absolute right to insist that the insulin be redrawn up in front of you, using a newly packaged syringe and the insulin vial for your inspection.
I received another posted alert today on this, on an overdose of insulin given in an MD office, because the wrong type of syringe was used. "an ambulatory patient with diabetes presents with high blood sugar, and the nurse practitioner orders insulin. After administration, she discovers that she injected the insulin with a tuberculin rather than an insulin syringe, resulting in a 10-fold overdose."
Insulin is a High Hazard drug....meaning many errors occur, both in the hospital and in the MD offices. Stay informed and stay safe!
Claudia |
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