Correction doses

[pippaandben]

How frequently do others make correction injections? I used to only do them when testing prior to a main meal. However after my wake up call "chat" - otherwise known as a telling off - I am being meticulous about injecting for every carb that pass my lips. This means testing more frequently however and whilst not correcting within the 2-3 hour window I wondered how others re-act. My correction dose is one unit for each 0.5 blood sugar above 5.5 unless exercising in some way. Normal dose 1 unit for 9gm carbs - yes sometimes I am thankful for that GCE in maths!!

 

[Greyhound Gal]

I don't think about a correction dose unless I'm above 10 and a meal is more than about an hour away. I'd test again before eating and probably take less bolus, depending on the reading and how long ago I'd taken the correction.
For me 1 unit brings me down about 3mmol.

 

[DaveB]

I don't correct unless I'm around 10 or more and not planning another meal & injection within an hour or two.

 

[Kaylz]

As a Type 1 that is rather sensitive to insulin I'm not to correct unless I'm eating, so if I were too high pre meal I'd leave it until next meal as I've been advised to do, half a unit drops me by 3mmol so I can only safely correct even at a meal if above 9, also I've been advised not to correct at bed time unless I have a snack with it, it really depends on the individual and how you react to the insulin x

 

[Rosiecarmel]

Like the others, I only correct if I'm above 10 and not planning on eating for a while. If my tea is at 5pm say, and I'm 10mmol or higher at 4:30 I'll just wait till 5 and add an extra unit or two onto my bolus.

I also never correct at bedtime unless I'm planning on setting a 2-3am alarm to test just to be on the safe side.

 

[Radders]

I am on a pump and as long as I have no active bolus I correct for anything above 7.5 unless I am due to exercise or going to sleep. One unit drops me by 5 but with a pump I can do very precise doses. When using injections I was less sensitive so used to correct with half a unit for every 2 points above 5.5 but not within 4 hours of a previous bolus unless I calculated that the remaining active bolus would not cover the spike.

 

[pippaandben]

Many thanks for your advice. The proof that I have been over correcting was last evening when I had a bad hypo at 1.2 before my usual full sweat symptoms kicked in and no tingly chest or jelly legs until I had managed to get from lounge to kitchen to get to OH!! I know the reason was too much insulin and will now round down what the carbs are on packaging and cut back on the correcting. Unless I am just more sensitive in evenings? Isn't it fun trying to play a game where the rules keep changing

 

[Kaylz]

Isn't it fun trying to play a game where the rules keep changing

I've only been playing the game 6 months and I'm already saying its a game I don't want to play anymore lol! also yes it is more possible to be more sensitive to insulin at different times of day, some members find they can inject for breakfast up to an hour before but have to inject just before their evening meal, also the hotter weather has been causing problems for us and seems quite a few of us including myself suffered hypo's yesterday, I hope you got your levels up quickly and aren't feeling too rough today!! 🙂 x

 

[PhoebeC]

Kaylz is right the heat makes insulin work quicker for most people so that's worth considering. Think we are all suffering with heat hypos at the moment.

I'm the same as the rest only correct if over 10 and not eating soon. I always ccorrect at night if I don't it just climbs more

 

[Amberzak]

I used to correct all the time and had severe hypos as a result. Now I don't correct unless it's above 12. That was the advice I was given.

I also use a pump

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I take the same approach as others here rarely worrying until things go above 10.

The only exceptions are:
At mealtimes where my pump calculates mini corrections to aim to get me to 6.0

If it is one of the times where I am wearing a sensor and a guessed meal shows a steep spike and/or gives an alert-before-high where I might bung in a correction to take the edge off the spike and just watch the graph to make sure I don't dip

If I've checked at 2 or 3hrs and I'm above target, but still have a lot of iob, I might correct to aim to get me back to 9.0, which is where I am supposed to have been according to the official numbers

 

[khskel]

I usually just adjust my mealtime bolus to get mr back on track unless I have one of my rare forays into double figures and then it's with caution to avoid getting into a hi lo yoyo loop.