Discussion SpotOn - an insulin dosage prediction app

SpotOn App said:

Hi everyone,

I am creating an app that helps you to better estimate the needed bolus insulin dosage. It does so by means of a machine learning algorithm, which essentially learns from past values.

In order to proceed with the development, I am looking for type I diabetics who would like to help validating the app by regularly entering the measurements, calories and dosage and giving feedback about the accuracy of the prediction. You will have the possibility to shape the app and make it really useful.

Please contact me if you are interested to help make this app made by diabetics for diabetics a success!

The SpotOn developer

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Spiker said:

I'd be up for participating. You need to track carbs not calories.

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Spiker said:

I agree it's mostly basic arithmetic but I also agree that occasionally the brain gets foggy and a cross check is helpful.
Tbh the bolus calculator on my pump has been one of the handiest features, for convenience and piece of mind.
A really useful bolus calculator would:

- track Insulin On Board
- handle protein
- handle fat
- accept follow up BG data and suggest ratio changes if the follow up values are consistently off
- facilitate basal rate recalibration during fasting periods, based on BG inputs

The additional inputs you need to track are

- time of day
- exercise duration and intensity (tricky)
- illness
- change of routine
- skipped meals, activity or sleep
- basal or bolus dosing errors (+/-)
- different insulin types. (Different QA and basal insulins have different onset times, peak times, duration and total action. Most of these factors are dose dependent even for the same insulin type)
- subcutaneous vs intramuscular injection
- pump vs pen
- bolus time vs meal time eg 20 min before, at start of meal, after meal, etc
- split bolus doses
- mixed QA type bolus doses
- quick / long insulin mixes
- ambient temperature / season
- menstruation
- medications eg steroids
- body weight

Daunted yet?

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Spiker said:

I agree it's mostly basic arithmetic but I also agree that occasionally the brain gets foggy and a cross check is helpful.
Tbh the bolus calculator on my pump has been one of the handiest features, for convenience and piece of mind.
A really useful bolus calculator would:

- track Insulin On Board
- handle protein
- handle fat
- accept follow up BG data and suggest ratio changes if the follow up values are consistently off
- facilitate basal rate recalibration during fasting periods, based on BG inputs

The additional inputs you need to track are

- time of day
- exercise duration and intensity (tricky)
- illness
- change of routine
- skipped meals, activity or sleep
- basal or bolus dosing errors (+/-)
- different insulin types. (Different QA and basal insulins have different onset times, peak times, duration and total action. Most of these factors are dose dependent even for the same insulin type)
- subcutaneous vs intramuscular injection
- pump vs pen
- bolus time vs meal time eg 20 min before, at start of meal, after meal, etc
- split bolus doses
- mixed QA type bolus doses
- quick / long insulin mixes
- ambient temperature / season
- menstruation
- medications eg steroids
- body weight

Daunted yet?

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tim2000s said:

I thought of flea treatments at first as well.

My issue with all of these things is the amount of time I have to send recording stuff.

If I know my ratios and food carb/protein content, then I generically work my bolus out. My brain algorithm is pretty good at this, has had loads of practice and doesn't require me to type anything anywhere.

If I notice anomalies in testing, then I check the top of my novopen echo to confirm what my insulin was. Then I'll write something down and test again tomorrow to try and spot a pattern.

I kind of thought this was how people worked. Do people rely heavily on bolus calculators for what I consider to be very simple maths?

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Heathenlass said:

LOL
Ps. Can it also make tea ?

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