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How many units?

M

mikeg1964

Well-Known Member
Messages
136
Location
LONDON
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
As a newbie I was just wondering how many bolus units people have been recently taking. Why do I ask ??...because I am new and often frightened that I am taking too much.
I am aware of carb counting, insulin sensitivity and the importance of eating low carbs, taking readings ...although still a rookie.

So for breakfast 12 units seems to have keep breakfast under conrol, lunch and evening meal are about 10 units . But when I have a high car meal that is when I get frightened !!!!

I need to get on a course but in the meantime I thought I would just ask .

thanks in advance
 
Unfortunately, you can't use others' insulin intake as a way to determine whether what you are taking is "abotu right". We each have our own personal requirements. There is a wide range of insulin to carb ratios in use on the forum.

I suggest you go and take a look at the bdec course which will take you through carb counting and hopefully will provide you with a little more confidence as you approach different meals.

http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/
 
Hi. Carb ratios do vary and tend to follow body weight to some extent as Basal does. Are you a bit overweight? My Bolus is never over 10 and typically 7-8. My weight is 63Kg. Your 12 for breakfast does sound high and implies a carby breakfast or that you have some insulin resistance?
 
As Tim says it not about what other people inject its about how much you need to keep your bg levels steady and under control. reducing the carbs in your diet (you don't have to go too low) and exercising are two good ways of reducing insulin usage.
 
Thanks...I fully understand that I cannot bases my units on other peoples. For me it is all about getting familiar with the territory

Yes I sill have a carby breakfast, I currently have other health issues so I cannot at the moment address a low carb diet fully. I am quite slim although tall ( 85kg).
 
when you say your aware of carb counting what does that mean............?

having 12 units for breakfast would need to correspond to a carb amount..............the higher the carbs, the more units you need........

what is a typical breakfast........?
 
Adjusting insulin to match carb intake, I do that. I am going to get attacked by the low carb police, but I normally have 2 oatabixs with milk and a hot cross bun, that's about a total of 70 g. At present I am getting chemotherapy so eating is very difficult. Also I think the anti sickness med plays hell with bs , however I am managing reasonable control.

I just wanted to find out what others were taking , more out of curiosity opposed to adjusting my own units. Thanks.
 
@mikeg1964, hope all goes well with the chemo and you make a full recovery, my average insulin usage is around 34 units a day.
 
Thanks for the wishes. Joined the T1 club as complication of a recent op, so trying to get familiar with it all. Great that there are plenty of people to help on this site. Must be a bit fustrating if the question seems odd.
 
Actually, it sounds like you are doing brilliantly, under the circumstances Well done !

I admit that I find it interesting how much others use, not in a comparative or competitive way though. Just plain old curiosity In the interests of sharing back, my doses are tiny , a maximum of around 4 units , which is for breakfast because of a pig of a dawn phenomena, but other meals are around 2- 3 units, give or take a half unit. I think this is mostly to do with my personal weird low carb, higher fat, vegetarian coeliac diet, and a very active job that makes me insulin sensitive.

Or I'm just plain weird anyway

Signy
 
mikeg1964 said:
Thanks for the wishes. Joined the T1 club as complication of a recent op, so trying to get familiar with it all. Great that there are plenty of people to help on this site. Must be a bit fustrating if the question seems odd.
Click to expand...

Hello and welcome and honestly no question is odd. Sorry to hear of you having chemo, you do have a lot on your plate.
I have about 2 units for breakfast, but my whole day and that includes night time is roughly about 30 units per day. I'm a long time diabetic and female too. It can also depends on how active you are after a meal, as in the mornings, I am very active, but I do only have about 10 carbs for breakfast most days.

Best wishes RRB
 
Good luck with your chemo!

Coming back to your original question, I use 22 basal units of Levemir in two shots, one of 14 am and one of 8 pm.

My insulin:carb ratio is 1u:12g carbs, but the way I take insulin (because I am eating a lot of protein) is more like a pump extended bolus, in that I take 2u when eating, then 1u about an hour later. In total it's about 12u a day.
 
Hi. Yes 70g carbs for breakfast is very high. I typically have 25g. I understand your current chemo etc which must make life difficult.
 
But I match it with insulin.. not a long term strategy must I add
 
Hi..I'm new, only 3 weeks diagnosed. I have 2 wetabix and semi skim milk for brekkie with dose of 4 Novorapid. Then 6 Novorapid with lunch, 6 Novorapid at teatime & 14 being my lantus basal I take in the evening, usually with my last Novorapid. This seems to keep me steady at moment, but it's early days..I'm having about 150 carbs a day. Hope all goes well with chemo
 
Ask your DSN about carb counting for yourself, as you need to match the amount of insulin vs the amount of carbs you eat...you need to know what ratio to use and how to vary the ratio for meals and why you need to do so. Ask about the DAFNE course and please don't bother with 2 hour testing ... do 4 hour tests as most insulins take 2-4 hours to work as recommended by DAFNE .
 
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