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Carb / Insulin Ratio?

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
newbs

newbs

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Just wondering if there is a general carb/insulin ratio or does it vary widely from person to person? Seem to have the hang of carb counting but have to wait several weeks to see dietician & DSN before being given by ratio. Would be useful to have an idea as I can now see where I am giving too much insulin but not sure roughly how much to give? Thanks.
 
Northerner said:
This page might be helpful newbs:

http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/page.aspx?cat=7001&id=7303

or this one:

http://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/sites/diabetes/food/CarbohydrateTestMeals.php

It does vary a lot from person to person, and also often changes dependent on time of day or what you eat, but the above pages give you the starting point and theory, it's just a case of tweaking, experimenting and experience/recording what happened 🙂
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Fantastic, thanks v. much Northerner! Will definitely give me a better idea than I have at the moment. 🙂
 
Much as Northerner has said it varies from person to person and you'll find that your morning breakfast ratio is higher or lower than your evening meal , something else to keep in mind is that insulin ratios do change over time and its important to monitor and pick up these changes when they do occur.
 
Alan, I found the Leeds website VERY interesting.

My question is - do you think I could use all tips as a T2 on tablets AND insulin?

Now that things have calmed done I need to go back to the beginning and write things down, chart, record and hopefully reduce the quantity of insulin I currently take.

Thanks
 
Hi Hazel, I don't see why not 🙂 I think that things become more difficult to get right if you are on very small or very large doses of insulin, but if I recall correctly this is not the case with you.
 
I liked the Leeds site also.. very easy to understand, even if it is aimed at kids lol

^^^ about to start a new learning curve!^^^^
 
Right now you've read that LOL, most of us start by trying 1u fast acting to 10g of carb - and move on from there!
 
I also started on the 1 unit for every 10grams.........

After testing, and more importantly, recording the results, I established my ratios, which are now, 3 units to 10g for breakfast and 1.5 units for 10grams the rest of the day.......

So if you start on 1 unit to 10grams across the whole day and you find you are above target before lunch for 3 consecutive days (assuming carbs have been counted correctly and there has been no unforeseen circumstance), then you can put up your insulin to 1.5 units to 10 grams, test for 3 days, adjust accordingly......
 
I currently use 1/24g in the mornings, and 1/30 for the rest of the day. Although I feel I need to adjust at the moment. I don't like saying 'start with 1/10 automatically' to people, because it's a dangerous piece of advice, since people's needs can vary so differently.
 
SacredHeart said:
I currently use 1/24g in the mornings, and 1/30 for the rest of the day. Although I feel I need to adjust at the moment. I don't like saying 'start with 1/10 automatically' to people, because it's a dangerous piece of advice, since people's needs can vary so differently.
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A very good point Becky. 🙂 I often see people on FB advising others on specific quantities and usually point out that it can be potentially dangerous without knowing a person's personal sensitivity. Someone was advising increasing lantus by two units to someone the other day, which would have had me on the floor as I'm currently only on 3 units anyway! 😱
 
Didn't used to have that choice when i was on Lantus Alan, the pen it came in was only in 2u increments. Ridiculous unless you were eg a T2 taking 70u at a time or something ....
 
trophywench said:
Didn't used to have that choice when i was on Lantus Alan, the pen it came in was only in 2u increments. Ridiculous unless you were eg a T2 taking 70u at a time or something ....
Click to expand...

Yes, I had a battle to get a 1 unit version of the autopen - they prescribed me the wrong pen 3 times before I got the right one, despite providing them wit the right code! I can't believe that there is no half-unit version and that I'd have to change insulin or use a syringe to get half units - how accurate can you be with a syringe at drawing up half-units? (Never having had to use one)
 
Northerner said:
Yes, I had a battle to get a 1 unit version of the autopen - they prescribed me the wrong pen 3 times before I got the right one, despite providing them wit the right code! I can't believe that there is no half-unit version and that I'd have to change insulin or use a syringe to get half units - how accurate can you be with a syringe at drawing up half-units? (Never having had to use one)
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A pumps the way ahead Northy!! 0.1 unit increments.....happy days! 🙂
 
I seem to be good with 2/10 throughout the day but breakfast is not working well at that so am trying 3/10 for breakfast tomorrow ... BG has been better, hopefully that will now continue. 🙂
 
The DAFNE programme works with carbohydrate portions, which for adults is 10grams, and for juveniles is 15grams, so I believe.....

All medical advice should come from the pros but I would disagree that 1 unit for 10 grams is dangerous, I think its a good place to start, as most I have crossed paths with will need more than this.........🙂
 
Having switched my Levermir from evenings to mornings, I have found that 24 units providing a solid base with minimal movement in Blood Sugar levels between before bed and getting up readings.

With this Levermir regime I have found that my Novorapid dosage is 1 to 13 carbs for each of the 3 meals.

It took 2 -3 weeks of highly erratic readings before settling down but I'm now in a 5th week of relative stability - my best run ever..........
 
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