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Correction dose

Discussion in 'Diabetes Discussions' started by angie92, Oct 25, 2019.

  1. angie92

    angie92 Type 1 · Member

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    How do you work out a correction dose as the other day my levels were 12.9 and I took 2 units and after two hours they were 5.7 in not confident in doing correction my diabetic team are **** and won’t help me
     
    • Hug Hug x 2
    #1 angie92, Oct 25, 2019 at 10:38 PM
  2. EllieM

    EllieM Type 1 · Moderator
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    Your diabetic team are supposed to give you a correction ratio - eg 1 unit brings you down by 2mmol/L. This varies from person to person and can even vary by time of day, so we're really not allowed to recommend dosages on here - though the figures you've given above suggest that 1 unit brings you down by 3.5 (rounding down from 3.6 to nearest half unit) … Having said that, you don't state your type of insulin so I don't know how much more those 2 units would bring you down after that 2 hours....
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    #2 EllieM, Oct 25, 2019 at 10:59 PM
  3. urbanracer

    urbanracer Type 1 · Well-Known Member
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    Well from the above you know that 2 units has dropped you 7mmol (assuming there were no external influences) so 1 unit is correcting you by 3.5 mmol.

    I'm afraid that it can vary. If my blood sugars are high (in the teens) then I need a higher ratio of insulin to get back down than if I was hovering around 10mmol. It comes with experience and learning how your body reacts.

    Sorry, nothing is straight forward with insulin. Test often and keep a record
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
    #3 urbanracer, Oct 25, 2019 at 10:59 PM
  4. angie92

    angie92 Type 1 · Member

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    I’m on humalog insulin
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
    #4 angie92, Oct 26, 2019 at 12:06 AM
  5. michita

    michita Type 1 · Well-Known Member

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    I use 1 unit to drop 3 mmol/L but when I do a correction I always try to be on a safe side and I have a half unit pen which I think helps. You will learn from trial and error :)
     
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    #5 michita, Oct 26, 2019 at 12:17 AM
  6. ickihun

    ickihun Type 2 · Master

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    We are all different. I hv to use 10 novarapid units to come down 3mmol/ml. However I'm an Insulin dependant type2.
     
    #6 ickihun, Oct 26, 2019 at 12:27 AM
  7. Marie 2

    Marie 2 LADA · Well-Known Member

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    That's not a clear cut question. They usually give you a starting point and then it has to be adjusted to fit you.
    As someone similarly said before, if I am too high, say over 9, it takes more to bring it down than if I want to lower it from a 7.
    Activity level also makes a big difference on how much I need, and night time I need a little less to correct.

    It really is a learning curve on exactly how much and we don't always get it right. Trial and error as said before! Keep track of how you respond and you will learn!
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    #7 Marie 2, Oct 26, 2019 at 7:39 AM
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