Insulin Correction Doses

[mum2westiesGill]

Just wondered what anybody thinks of these correction doses whch my GP gave me sometime ago. Do you think they should be higher amounts of insulin?

If B/S (pre meal) is >(greater than) 12
>12 to >15 = 2 extra units
>15 to >20 = 4 extra units
>20 to >25 = 6 extra units
>25 + = 6 extra units but check again after 1 - 1 1/2 hrs
if still >20 give further 4 units

 

[Northerner]

I think it has to depend on your own personal sensitivity to insulin. Whilst you may use such tables as a possible guide, you have to be very cautious as you learn what works for you as an individual. For some people, those correction doses might be completely inadequate, yet for others they may be totally dangerous!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

As Alan says everyone's correction factor needs to be individually tested and checked.

The general 'rule of thumb' I was given by my DSN (the 100 rule) is based on a persons TDD - total daily dose. So you take a 'normal' day add up all your boluses and your basal dose(s). Then divide 100 by that number and it will give you a VERY APPROXIMATE guide as to how much your BG will move with 1u of rapid insulin.

Say for the sake of argument TDD = 33u

So 100 divided by 33 = 3.03

So you could carefully correct on the basis that 1u might reduce BG by 3mmol/L

 

[Northerner]

That's a much more useful suggestion than giving specific amounts to everyone Mike. I've seen more than once on Facebook someone saying their levels were (say) 12 and how much should they give as a correction - and people responding based on their OWN experience. Even worse as the people who ask are generally fairly newly-diagnosed, very dangerous 😱 One of the reasons I think FB is so inappropriate for discussing such serious health issues as people often don't think before responding and FB pages aren't very well moderated.

 

[novorapidboi26]

I use a similar system to you Gill, however it only applies to me after lots of testing and recording.......

My pump nurse was shocked at some of the corrections I was giving when above 17mmol/l, but it does work.......

When the pump starts I will be starting from the very beginning again and so hopefully wont need to use such a correction system as this...

 

[bev]

As Alan says everyone's correction factor needs to be individually tested and checked.

The general 'rule of thumb' I was given by my DSN (the 100 rule) is based on a persons TDD - total daily dose. So you take a 'normal' day add up all your boluses and your basal dose(s). Then divide 100 by that number and it will give you a VERY APPROXIMATE guide as to how much your BG will move with 1u of rapid insulin.

Say for the sake of argument TDD = 33u

So 100 divided by 33 = 3.03

So you could carefully correct on the basis that 1u might reduce BG by 3mmol/L

Hi Mike,

This is the same advice as we were given - but over time we have tweaked it as its only to start you off we were told. It does surprise me that people arent given this advice on how to work out their ISF or even where to begin.🙂Bev

 

[trophywench]

That was actually correct for me on MDI - however it still is correct on a pump and taking about 20u TDD a day! LOL