i am on novomix 30 and im type 2 i am trying to find out how many units to how many carbs i think thats what it is
8 and i want to take enought to get me down to 6 then do i click the pen to number 2 for 2 single units or is it 20 units that makes it go down by 2.
It doesn't really work that way with the insulin you are using.
A CAVEAT: MY ANSWER IS NOT FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE BUT FROM THE NOVO WEBSITE AND WHAT I KNOW FROM READING OTHERS EXPERIENCES.
Novomix insulin contains a mixture of 30% rapid-acting soluble insulin aspart and 70% intermediate-acting protaminated insulin aspart.
( It is not a flexible insulin. Many of us use another regime where you have 2 different insulins and can therefore adjust on a meal by meal basis)
The rapid part is designed to cope with the food. This element starts working soon after dosing , is at its peak between 1 and 4 hours after injecting.
The intermediate part is designed to keep your levels stable between meals.
Because the insulins are mixed, if you raise one you automatically raise the other. This is why it is very important that changes are made carefully. It is not designed to alter from meal to meal. As some people gain confidence they learn to use it a bit more flexibly but as I said it isn't designed to vary even daily.
You really should go back to the nurse to discuss but this is the advice from the Novo treatment sheet
http://www.novonordisk.com/images/diabetes/pdf/novomix_dosing_guidelines_v18.pdf
Adjust dose of NovoMix® 30 on the
basis of lowest blood glucose value from preceding 3 days Dose adjustments should be made once a weekuntil target HbA1c is achieved.
Adjustment is made on the basis of
premeal values .
The leaflet has amounts to adjust by... if you use it please take care to use the mmol figures.
The number you dial on your pen is the number of units....... for the most part the leaflet suggests adjustment by 2 u and a maximum of 4u. Please DON'T adjust by 20!
NOTE :
Titration algorithm is only appropriate for patients who have a stable diet and
exercise pattern
Because your insulin is not adjusted to suit your meals on a daily basis, it helps if you eat to a fairly regular pattern (carb amounts in particular). This gives you a chance of being able to adjust the dose correctly If you eat 20 carbs for lunch 1 day, and 60 for lunch another, you could be taking too much insulin one day and not enough on another.
The amount you should eat will depend upon your weight (and if you need to lose, gain or remain stable) and your activity level. I personally think that a GI diet is a good plan, and know of several type 2s who have used the books by R. Gallop with sucess.
Finally exercise, you are not very old at 51, you certainly don't have to start jogging or join a gym but exercise is a very important part of diabetes treatment., it helps to reduce insulin resistance. Walking is a great form of exercise. (as are activities like mowing and digging the garden)
