• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Correction or split bolus?

Antje77

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Messages
21,671
Location
Friesland (the Netherlands)
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
It's just semantics I guess, and not very important, but I still wonder when you call it a correction and when a split bolus?
Does it have to do with knowing in advance you'll inject multiple times for a particular meal? Or more with how high your bg went when not expecting it? Or maybe with how long after a meal you find out something went wrong?
I use the Libre, which means I can scan away after a difficult meal and react quicker than with fingerpricks. I guess that makes the difference between correction and split bolus less clear.
 
To me, it is a "correction" when it is not planned but done because I have taken a reading and realised it is higher than I expect which may be due to miscounting carbs or stress or certain types of exercise/
I would call it a "split bolus" when I plan to take a second (or third ... if I could ever plan that far in advance") dose. This could be due to a long meal such as a buffet or something with multiple courses or due to a single course which is digested over a long time such as pizza.
But this is just me: others may have a different definition.
 
Agree with helen on that. Correction when the high is not expected and split when you know ie with pizza or curry and rice
 
With the obvious like pizza, I know I will inject multiple times, although the doses will depend on BG, so I don't know the dose beforehand.
But for most foods, I inject, wait and see what my Libre says after 90 minutes or 2 or 3 hours and then decide about injecting again. So I know I will MAYBE inject twice. So it 's probably more of a correction than a split bolus. Although very different from the 'How did that happen? -correction.
 
Split dose: you know you're having Xg of carbs but will only bolus a certain percentage of the correct dose, to be followed up later with the remaining dose. Used to stop a low due to delayed carb absorption (for what ever reason)

Correction: to correct a higher than anticipated BG level.

Antje77 said:
But for most foods, I inject, wait and see what my Libre says after 90 minutes or 2 or 3 hours and then decide about injecting again
Click to expand...

Is this the right thing to do? (especially if you're having to do this all the time) Ask 10 T1s and you'd get 10 different answers, but I'd say what ever works for you..................but......................
 
I think it's the right thing to do, it gives me great numbers and less spikes than when I try to inject only once for many foods.
 
Also, I might be fine with 5 units for a slice of bread in the morning today, but be better off with 6 units for the same slice of bread tomorrow. Only way to find out if it's a 5 unit day or a 6 unit day is to wait and see.
 
Antje77 said:
Also, I might be fine with 5 units for a slice of bread in the morning today, but be better off with 6 units for the same slice of bread tomorrow. Only way to find out if it's a 5 unit day or a 6 unit day is to wait and see.
Click to expand...

So is today a 5 or 6 day????!
 
I'm not sure it really matters what it's called. We just get on and do what's needed don't we/
 

This scenario? I tend to call it a "chaser."
 
SueJB said:
I'm not sure it really matters what it's called. We just get on and do what's needed don't we/
Click to expand...
You're absolutely right, but every once in a while I go looking for answers to the random questions my brain produces when almost falling asleep
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…