• Guest, the forum is undergoing some upgrades and so the usual themes will be unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, you can use the forum like normal. We'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

How much insulin?

E

eshobabu

Well-Known Member
I have a 6 yr old T1d, who is currently on 2 units a night of basal, and 0.5 of humalog fast acting per meal. I have read that humans use 0.5 to 1 unit/kg/day. Given my daughter is approx 20kg, that means she needs 10-20 units a day, and we are giving her 2-4 units. Does this mean her pancreas are producing remaining 10-18? At diagnosis we were giving her 8-12 total units but now its down to 2-4, so she is clearly honeymooning.

My question for other T1Ds is - when your honeymoon ends, do you end up needing that much insulin? 1 unit/kg/day? So if she is 20kg and her honeymoon ends, I will have to go to 10-20 total units?
 
eshobabu said:
... when your honeymoon ends, do you end up needing that much insulin? 1 unit/kg/day? So if she is 20kg and her honeymoon ends, I will have to go to 10-20 total units?
Click to expand...
People on pumps use somewhat less as absorption is better. People eating low-carb need less, although ketogenic eating reduces insulin sensitivity. Exercise increases insulin sensitivity. So there are various factors, but the 0.5-1.0 units per Kg is in the ballpark for adults with normal insulin sensitivity. I weigh 73Kg, I eat low carb and I use about 33 units of insulin a day. That ratio may not apply to children, especially during growth spurts and when hormones get active.
 
So this is interesting - as you grow older, you gain weight, so you need more insulin. In non T1D, do pancreas produce more beta cells to release the increased demand? or are you born with all the beta cells you will ever need and its just that more and more of them produce insulin as you grow? Does the autoimmue response in T1D kill any new beta cells being produced and the pancreas eventually give up?
 
eshobabu said:
... In non T1D, do pancreas produce more beta cells to release the increased demand? or are you born with all the beta cells you will ever need and its just that more and more of them produce insulin as you grow? Does the autoimmue response in T1D kill any new beta cells being produced and the pancreas eventually give up?
Click to expand...
Beta cell numbers increase rapidly in the early years of life, but it slows right down in adulthood. Apparently beta cells stop regenerating in mid-life, which is why elderly people are often glucose intolerant. Yes, the automimmune system promptly kills regenerated beta cells. Beta cells that regenerate with T2 diabetes are killed by glucose toxicity. This article contains useful background.
 
MarkMunday said:
Beta cell numbers increase rapidly in the early years of life, but it slows right down in adulthood. Apparently beta cells stop regenerating in mid-life, which is why elderly people are often glucose intolerant. Yes, the automimmune system promptly kills regenerated beta cells. Beta cells that regenerate with T2 diabetes are killed by glucose toxicity. This article contains useful background.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much! For the life of me I could not find a clear answer to this question. Thanks for your insight!
 
Back
Top