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Any advice on ratios ?

PG1759

PG1759

Well-Known Member
Messages
128
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I haven't been on the dafne course yet so sorry if this sounds like a daft question ...
Can I have a lower insulin ratio than 1:10 - like 1:8 for example. I appreciate that I obviously can but what I mean is, is it recognised as a ratio ?
 
yes you can, have a look at workbook 2 for ICR or I:C and how to work it out
most here will say to do your basal first

Workbook 1
http://www.diabetesinscotland.org.uk/Publications/9225 Carbohydrate Counting.pdf
Workbook 2
http://www.diabetesinscotland.org.uk/Publications/9226 Carbohydrate Counting the Next Steps.pdf

Carb list
http://www.diabetesinscotland.org.uk/Publications/9227 Carbohydrate Tables A6.pdf

Diary
http://www.diabetesinscotland.org.uk/Publications/9228 Free Diary Portrait A4.pdf

Basal testing
http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?page_id=120

Sick day rules
http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?page_id=141
http://www.diabetes-healthnet.ac.uk...flet_-_Sick_Day_Rules_for_Type_1_-_Nov_13.pdf

Sick day rules flowchart
http://www.leicestershirediabetes.org.uk/uploads//documents/Type1 Sick_day_rules_InsulinV3.pdf

A workbook with USA numbers and math rules, but it has a good trouble shoot at the end
http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/download/insulin_adjustment_workbook_complete.pdf
 
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Your ratio is whatever you find it is, the 1:10 is just a starting point in which HCP's advise you to start carb counting on, if you use Novorapid as your QA insulin ask for a NovoPen Echo as this dials up in half units and also has a handy memory function, if you use Apidra as your QA then ask for a JuniorStar pen which also dials up in half units.

As you've not been on the DAFNE course yet, take a look at the following which is an on-line version of the course, by all accounts it is very good:

http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/
 
yes you can, but think through the practicalities of how good you are at mental arithmetic.

By that I mean my morning and lunch ratio is 1.25 to 10, which is the same as 1 to 8. My mental arithmetic is pretty good, but I definitely find 1 1/4 to 10 easier to work out in my head than I would find than 1 to 8.
 
Ratios are entirely personal and need to be determined largely by trial and error, but one thing that no-one here has ssaid yet is that you need to get the basal rate right first otherwise you are using mealtime insulin to correct for deficiencies in basal.

Personally, when I was on MDI I started on about 20:1, but when I got my basal right (20% lower), I went to 15:1 and stayed there. I'm now going through the same process with a pump.
 
Hi thanks guys, my basal (in my mind) is as good as it can be but my mealtime insulin on an evening is always out and I'm currently working on a 1:10 ratio
 
Personally I don't think it's possible to work out an exact ratio as there are too many variables to take into consideration - amount of exercise, illnesses, stress, weather, etc, etc, etc.
I stick to a specific ratio but will correct after an hour or so with insulin, exercise or carbs depending on which way the meter is swinging. I find timing the insulin shots in relation to what I have eaten or am about to eat is effective at keeping the BS spikes to a minimum.
 
Ratios are very personal calculation and it' takes a while to work out but only from your own personal experiences.So keep records and eventually a pattern will evolve and you will soon be able to work out your own ratios.
 
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