Guest guest Posted December 7, 2004 Report Share Posted December 7, 2004 In a message dated 12/7/04 10:20:43 AM Eastern Standard Time, kpaulmt@... writes: >> >Say I eat 40 carbs for lunch. Divide 40 by 3 and it comes out 13 >units? wow Or even 30 carbs would be 10 units. All my doctor said >was to take 5 units for large meals. When I use only 5 units my BS >has been around 285 after meals. I think my calculations might be >correct seeing that my BS is so high, but it sounds like a lot and I >am a little afraid. Any help appreciated......... >>>>>>> First, it's not a good idea to make judgments about how much insulin a person needs. Type 2s need more than type 1s, and type 2s are all over the map in what they need. It's neither too much nor too little, good nor bad, it just is what it is. Second, go up slowly if you're nervous about making big changes, that way there's less chance of sending yourself low. Third, many people find that their ratio at breakfast is different than at other times, but we're all different (YMMV applies to everything - your needs might be highest at a time other than breakfast). You can find this out by eating the same thing at various times of day with no meal insulin working in your system - try it on various days at various times and see how much your BG rises. You can do this with glucose tabs too, but they aren't the best choice since they tend to raise BG very fast as compared with a mixed meal. Fourth, It's ok to take as much time as you need to get it all figured out. Might be best to work on one meal at a time, get that settled, then move on to the next one - less overwhelming that way. HTH Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2004 Report Share Posted December 7, 2004 I am still trying to figure out how to calculate insulin dosages. I can see why the doctors don't get into it. <very complicated> I am pretty sure I am at a 3 to 1 ratio for breakfast because when I eat 18 carbs I use 5 units and my numbers are good. Then after breakfast my numbers are up the rest of the day, probably because I am not using enough for lunch and dinner. Say I eat 40 carbs for lunch. Divide 40 by 3 and it comes out 13 units? wow Or even 30 carbs would be 10 units. All my doctor said was to take 5 units for large meals. When I use only 5 units my BS has been around 285 after meals. I think my calculations might be correct seeing that my BS is so high, but it sounds like a lot and I am a little afraid. Any help appreciated......... Thanks Kat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2004 Report Share Posted December 7, 2004 I've noticed that since I started with the basal insulin, UltraLente, at 8am and 8pm it evened out the background so the meal-related numbers really stand out and give me something to work with. That's how I finally discovered my apparent digestion anomalies. I'm not at all sure how best to work with them as yet, but at least I'm getting somewhere. So, Kat, what are you using for basal? Or are you only using insulin for meals? Carol katakaniki wrote: > > I am still trying to figure out how to calculate insulin dosages. I > can see why the doctors don't get into it. <very complicated> I am > pretty sure I am at a 3 to 1 ratio for breakfast because when I eat > 18 carbs I use 5 units and my numbers are good. Then after > breakfast my numbers are up the rest of the day, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2004 Report Share Posted December 7, 2004 >I've noticed that since I started with the basal insulin, UltraLente, at 8am and 8pm it evened out the background so the meal-related numbers really stand out and give me something to work with. That's how I finally discovered my apparent digestion anomalies. I'm not at all sure how best to work with them as yet, but at least I'm getting somewhere. So, Kat, what are you using for basal? Or are you only using insulin for meals? I am up to 18 units of Lantus at bedtime. I am very slowly increasing it because it keeps me awake and gives me heart pains every time I increase it by 1 unit. After 3 or 4 days, these side effects go away. The Novolog doesn't seem to bother me as far as side effects go <other than that very first time I took it I had a hypo>. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2004 Report Share Posted December 7, 2004 I might also add...give each increase a couple of days at the same level before changing it. Especially with basal. Vicki Re: Calculating insulin > > Thanks for your thoughts on this. I am trying to increase a unit or 2 > a day until I feel comfortable with the dosage. Kat > >>First, it's not a good idea to make judgments about how much insulin a >>person > needs. Type 2s need more than type 1s, and type 2s are all over the > map in > what they need. It's neither too much nor too little, good nor bad, > it just is > what it is. > > Second, go up slowly if you're nervous about making big changes, that > way > there's less chance of sending yourself low. > > Third, many people find that their ratio at breakfast is different > than at > other times, but we're all different (YMMV applies to everything - > your needs > might be highest at a time other than breakfast). You can find this > out by > eating the same thing at various times of day with no meal insulin > working in your > system - try it on various days at various times and see how much your > BG > rises. You can do this with glucose tabs too, but they aren't the > best choice > since they tend to raise BG very fast as compared with a mixed meal. > > Fourth, It's ok to take as much time as you need to get it all figured > out. > Might be best to work on one meal at a time, get that settled, then > move on to > the next one - less overwhelming that way. > > HTH > Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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