What are signs of too much insulin?

Asked by: Luna Hills  |  Last update: September 3, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (15 votes)

Symptoms of an overdose
  • confusion or feeling as though they have “brain fog”
  • irritability.
  • anxiety.
  • depression.
  • shakiness, weakness, or a “jittery” feeling.
  • dizziness.
  • a rapid heartbeat.
  • sweating, cold sweats, and chills.

How do I know if my insulin levels are too high?

Your insulin levels are considered normal if they're under 25 mIU/L during a fasting test. One hour after glucose administration, they may increase anywhere from 18 to 276 mIU/L. 8 If your insulin levels are consistently this high or even more elevated, even when fasting, you could be diagnosed with hyperinsulinemia.

How does high insulin make you feel?

This causes the common symptoms of high blood glucose levels—frequent urination, extreme thirst and tiredness. This can make you dehydrated, and you may lose weight—but it is not a healthy weight loss.

How do you flush out excess insulin?

Drinking water and staying hydrated is important for managing blood sugar, also known as blood glucose. “Water helps your kidneys filter out excess sugar through urine,” says Khan. “So, the more hydrated you are, the more urine production you'll have, which flushes out sugar in the body.”

What happens when body produces too much insulin?

Insulinomas keep making insulin, and can make your blood sugar level too low (hypoglycemia). A high blood insulin level causes a low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia). Hypoglycemia may be mild, leading to symptoms such as anxiety and hunger. Or it can be severe, leading to seizures, coma, and even death.

Too much insulin | By Richard P. Holm, MD

38 related questions found

What are 5 signs your blood sugar is too high?

Symptoms of hyperglycemia include:
  • Urinating large amounts.
  • Excessive thirst.
  • Feeling tired.
  • Frequent hunger.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Weight loss.
  • Blurred vision.
  • Recurrent infections (e.g., urinary infections, skin infections)

How does the body respond to too much insulin?

What to do if you've taken too much insulin. Sometimes, you can accidentally take more insulin than you need, which can result in an overdose. This can be very serious, and may lead to severe hypos. The worst cases can make you feel disorientated, cause you to have seizures and could even lead to death.

Can drinking a lot of water lower insulin?

Drinking water won't lower your blood sugar levels, but it can help you stay healthy by preventing dehydration. No single food or drink can directly reduce the amount of sugar in your blood. But different foods have different effects on your blood sugar, creating bigger or smaller rises for longer or shorter periods.

How to burn off excess insulin?

A healthful diet, physical exercise, and stress moderation can all help a person manage excess insulin to lower their levels. A person should always talk with their doctor before beginning a new diet or any new supplements to ensure they will not interfere with their medication plan or overall health.

What does hyperglycemia feel like?

increased thirst and a dry mouth. needing to pee frequently. tiredness. blurred vision.

How do I know if I took too much insulin?

Share on Pinterest Confusion, dizziness, and irritability after taking insulin are all symptoms of an overdose. Insulin helps the body's cells pick up sugar and use it as energy. When there is too much insulin in the blood, the cells absorb more sugar than they need to, leaving less sugar in the blood.

What is a diabetic belly?

But that doesn't mean abdominal weight gain should be ignored. It can be an early sign of so-called "diabetic belly," a build-up of visceral fat in your abdomen which may be a symptom of type 2 diabetes and can increase your chances of developing other serious medical conditions.

What are the worst foods for insulin resistance?

Foods to avoid for insulin resistance

Foods like the following increase your risk of a blood sugar spike: soda, juice, and sweetened tea. refined grains, including white rice, white bread, and cereal with added sugar. ultra-processed snack foods, like candy, cookies, cakes, and chips.

How can I check my insulin level at home?

In general, to check your blood sugar with a glucose meter, you'll:
  1. Wash your hands. ...
  2. Insert a test strip into your glucose meter.
  3. Use a lancing device to prick the side of your fingertip to get a drop of blood. ...
  4. Touch and hold the edge of the test strip against the drop of blood and wait for the result.

What is an insulin shock?

Insulin shock is a form of severe hypoglycemia, when blood sugar falls to dangerously low levels. If left untreated for too long, it can lead to loss of consciousness and even death. Insulin shock can occur in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes if they are using certain medications.

What to drink to lower blood sugar immediately?

Water. Water keeps you hydrated without contributing any energy in the form of sugar. Because water doesn't contain any sugar, it won't increase the amount of sugar in your blood. It's a great replacement for sugary drinks.

Does apple cider vinegar lower insulin?

Recent studies indicate that vinegar improves insulin sensitivity in healthy volunteers, as well as in subjects with diabetes [3–9]. The mechanisms by which vinegar reduces glucose levels are still unclear.

How to get rid of insulin belly fat?

Exercise seems to work off belly fat in particular because it reduces circulating levels of insulin —which would otherwise signal the body to hang on to fat—and causes the liver to use up fatty acids, especially those nearby visceral fat deposits, he says.

What drink at bedtime lowers blood sugar?

Chamomile tea

The nutritionist suggests that those with diabetes can take a cup of chamomile tea before going to bed. She says the tea has anti-inflammatory, astringent, and antioxidant properties, which can help optimise blood sugar levels.

What should I eat if I take too much insulin?

What to Do If You Have an Insulin Overdose
  • Check your blood sugar. ...
  • Drink one-half cup of regular soda or sweetened fruit juice, and eat a hard candy or have glucose paste, tablets, or gel.
  • If you skipped a meal, eat something now. ...
  • Rest. ...
  • Recheck your blood sugar after 15 or 20 minutes.

Does lemon water lower insulin?

A glass of lemon water can be medicinal if taken correctly. It helps regulate blood sugar levels, lower insulin resistance, and improve glucose metabolism. In any case, keep in mind that lemons also contain natural sugars, so intake should be monitored.

What are the symptoms of high insulin levels?

Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes include:
  • Increased thirst.
  • Frequent urination (peeing).
  • Increased hunger.
  • Blurred vision.
  • Headaches.
  • Vaginal and skin infections.
  • Slow-healing cuts and sores.

Is 30 units of insulin a lot?

Unlike most other medications, insulin can be given at a wide range of doses, from very low (2 to 10 units) to very high (>100 units), depending on diet, activity level, and sensitivity to the effects of insulin, which varies widely from person to person.