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How much insulin help needed!

N

neildegg

Member
Messages
5
Hi All

I'm currently only using fast acting nova rapid to control my sugars due to a bad liver.

I have read for every 10 grams of carbs you Inject 3 units & multiply by 3 for every additional 10 carbs in the meal. Can anyone confirm if this is a good starting point to follow?

My other confusion is how much to inject to get my reading down to around 8. If my reading for example is 14 how many units should I inject? It would be good to know on average how many units to inject to reduce my reading by 1 so I know what to multiply?

I know everyone body different but I need to know what works for others as a starting point because currently my sugars are like a jo jo.

Thanks in advance.

Neil
 
Hi @neildegg , and welcome to the forum!
neildegg said:
I have read for every 10 grams of carbs you Inject 3 units & multiply by 3 for every additional 10 carbs in the meal. Can anyone confirm if this is a good starting point to follow?
Click to expand...
What has your doctor prescribed you, and does this amount work for you?
The amount of insulin people need per amount of carbs varies a lot, so knowing what works for us won't help you a bit, and going from there can be dangerous.
neildegg said:
currently my sugars are like a jo jo.
Click to expand...
How often do you test your blood glucose? The best way to start is by trying to find patterns.
neildegg said:
I'm currently only using fast acting nova rapid to control my sugars due to a bad liver.
Click to expand...
Are you under care by an endocrinologist or under GP care? The liver is not the organ producing insulin, that would be your pancreas, although liver problems can go along with diabetes.
Can you tell us a bit more? Do you know what type of diabetes you have?
 
HI @neildegg and welcome to the forums.

Firstly, can I confirm that you are T2? And you don't normally take fast acting insulin but are now because of illness?

Do you normally take any insulin? eg long acting

(I am struggling to understand how you acquired insulin without any instructions as to its usage? )

neildegg said:
I have read for every 10 grams of carbs you Inject 3 units & multiply by 3 for every additional 10 carbs in the meal. Can anyone confirm if this is a good starting point to follow?
Click to expand...
So these were the instructions you were given? To be honest, I don't really understand what you've written. Can you give an example for the calculation for say 30g? (NormallyT1s have an insulin ratio X of so may units for 10g and then then just divide the carbs by 10 and multiply by X to get the amount. So a 30g meal would require 3X units)

neildegg said:
My other confusion is how much to inject to get my reading down to around 8. If my reading for example is 14 how many units should I inject? It would be good to know on average how many units to inject to reduce my reading by 1 so I know what to multiply?
Click to expand...
You want a correction amount, which also varies wildly . You need Y, the number of units that brings you down by 1mmol/L, and then in your example you just take 6 (ie 14-8) and multiply by Y.

But unfortunately some people can literally need 100 units of insulin where another person only needs one, so as @Antje77 said, it would be dangerous for us to give you actual figures (and the forum rules don't allow it.

Also, if I understand correctly and you are using insulin because of illness rather than permanently, the rules change again. There are sick day rules invented for insulin users, who typically need much more insulin when ill.

Are you able to go back to your diabetic team and ask questions about starting points?
 
EllieM said:
HI @neildegg and welcome to the forums.

Firstly, can I confirm that you are T2? And you don't normally take fast acting insulin but are now because of illness?

Do you normally take any insulin? eg long acting

(I am struggling to understand how you acquired insulin without any instructions as to its usage? )


So these were the instructions you were given? To be honest, I don't really understand what you've written. Can you give an example for the calculation for say 30g? (NormallyT1s have an insulin ratio X of so may units for 10g and then then just divide the carbs by 10 and multiply by X to get the amount. So a 30g meal would require 3X units)


You want a correction amount, which also varies wildly . You need Y, the number of units that brings you down by 1mmol/L, and then in your example you just take 6 (ie 14-8) and multiply by Y.

But unfortunately some people can literally need 100 units of insulin where another person only needs one, so as @Antje77 said, it would be dangerous for us to give you actual figures (and the forum rules don't allow it.

Also, if I understand correctly and you are using insulin because of illness rather than permanently, the rules change again. There are sick day rules invented for insulin users, who typically need much more insulin when ill.

Are you able to go back to your diabetic team and ask questions about starting points?
Click to expand...
Hey

I used to be on metformin but because my liver not in the best shape they put me on fast acting nova rapid & slow acting insulin.

I just really struggle on how much to take when to high & what to take before a meal.

I run out of the slow acting as chemist on my area can't get it so I'm only using fast acting.

My usual routine is:

Wake up test - based on reading take fast acting then eat

Test throughout day every 2 hours & if above 9 take more.

Before the next 2 meals test & inject.

Before bed test & inject If over 9.

I appreciate your help.

Neil
 
Antje77 said:
Hi @neildegg , and welcome to the forum!

What has your doctor prescribed you, and does this amount work for you?
The amount of insulin people need per amount of carbs varies a lot, so knowing what works for us won't help you a bit, and going from there can be dangerous.

How often do you test your blood glucose? The best way to start is by trying to find patterns.

Are you under care by an endocrinologist or under GP care? The liver is not the organ producing insulin, that would be your pancreas, although liver problems can go along with diabetes.
Can you tell us a bit more? Do you know what type of diabetes you have?
Click to expand...
Hey

I used to be on metformin but because my liver not in the best shape they put me on fast acting nova rapid & slow acting insulin.

I just really struggle on how much to take when to high & what to take before a meal.

I run out of the slow acting as chemist on my area can't get it so I'm only using fast acting.

My usual routine is:

Wake up test - based on reading take fast acting then eat

Test throughout day every 2 hours & if above 9 take more.

Before the next 2 meals test & inject.

Before bed test & inject If over 9.

I appreciate your help.

Neil
 
neildegg said:
I run out of the slow acting as chemist on my area can't get it so I'm only using fast acting.
Click to expand...

Are you in the UK? What is your slow acting insulin? If they genuinely can't get the brand you use I would go to your team and ask for a different brand. Possibly even go to the hospital and ask for it, though as I no longer live in the UK this may not be the right advice.

As a T1, if I took fast acting only, I'd have to inject in the middle of the night, because fast acting normally only lasts up to 5 hours and I need insulin 24/7. (As a T2, I assume you still produce your own insulin, so that may not be the case.)

You need to talk to your team about dosing. There are all sorts of issues about insulin stacking (novorapid lasts 3-5 hours and peaks at 1-3 so if you inject every two hours you can end up overdosing by mistake) which mean you need professional advice.
How are you coping overnight without slow acting insulin?
 
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