Question about Carb/Insulin Ratios.

[Oradev]

Got a question about carb/insulin ratios. I am back on Lantus and think that I have it down. One thing I am wondering about is my Insulin Carb ratio. Here is my scenario. My doctor told me to start off at 1:15. That didn't seem to work so I lowered the ratio to 1:10. I was still running high so this morning I ate 48 grams of carbs and took 6 units of insulin. When I woke up my BG was at 107 and now two hours after the meal it is 230. This concludes that my insulin carb ratio is lower than 1:8????? Does this sound right or is everyone like this in the morning??? Please Help.

Adam

[Oradev]

One more thing. I thought that the more you weigh, the slower the insulin absorbs. Well I am also 5' 10" and weigh about 170, which isn't heavy at all. And I exercise regularly.

[HeatherP]

I don't think that insulin absorption has anything to do w/ weight. Ins:carb ratios do. I'll see if I can find the formula for determining your ratio and post it. What did you eat for bkfst? Cereals can be unpredictable. Also, fats and protein can slow down carb absorption, thus causing your b/s to go down then up. Is it possible you injected into muscle tissue? Where you inject into can affect the way insulin acts. Abdomen is best, but I realize that one runs out of room and has to go elsewhere. Also, my b/s are most likely to be unstable in the a.m.'s. You may want to consider injecting after you eat, but if your sugar is high to begin with, then that won't work.

I'll find that equation for you.

HeatherP

[HeatherP]

The 500 Rule:

Estimates grams of carb per unit of Humalog or Novolog insulins (the 450 Rule is used with Regular insulin)
500 divided by your TDD (Total Daily Dose of insulin) = grams of carb covered by one unit of Humalog or Novolog
Lets you keep your post meal readings normal!

Example:
Someone's TDD = 50 units (i.e., the total amount of say Humalog and Lente insulins they used per day).
500/50 = 10 grams of carbohydrate covered by each unit of Humalog insulin

TDD = all fast insulin taken before meals, plus all long-acting insulin used in a day. If Humalog is used everyday to correct high readings, this may also need to be factored into the TDD. For instance, if someone's TDD is "30 units" (5 H before each meal, plus 15 Lantus at bedtime), but they need 8 to 12 units more almost every day to bring down highs, at least some of this 8 to 12 units will need to be factored into a new TDD.

Caution: The 500 Rule works best when someone is using MDI or an insulin pump and is getting 50% to 60% of their TDD as L/N/UL/Lantus or in their basal rate.



Oradev, this is for use as a starting point, not an absolute. I did the math, and it came out pretty accurately for my bkfst and lunch, but not my dinner ratio.

Hope this helps you,
HeatherP

[Oradev]

I used the formula and determined that my insulin carb ratio is 10:1. I will use this for a while and see how it goes. For breakfast I usually eat a bowl of Frosted Flakes (40 carbs for cereal) with Soy milk (8 carbs). I eat the Frosted Flakes because it has a really low Glycemic Index (around 55). Do you think I should eat toast with peanut butter instead.

Adam

[HeatherP]

You may find the toast and peanut butter idea more predictable. I find w/ cereals that my b/s shoots up into the 200's, then drops below 100 fast. Which is why I don't eat them anymore. Toast & P/B should absorb a little slower and more evenly for you.

Let me know how you do,
HeatherP

[rzrbks]

I find w/ cereals that my b/s shoots up into the 200's, then drops below 100 fast.

me too.

I have cereal once in a great while and fooph b/s through the roof

My normal breakfast is cup of tea or coffee with Sugar Twin and milk and a Peanut Butter and jelly sandwich. With that I have control of b/s. they're almost always right where they're supposed to be.

Unless I do something stupid like not add more Carbs and then go shovel snow for two hours.

Which is kinda cool. get to be "Drunk" in the morning and no booze.:D Wife gets really ticked off though. fusses at me about trying to "prove macho ****". I just laugh at her and pass out. LoL

[Jon]

Adam, something else to note, I was just told a few weeks ago that it takes 3 hours for your insulin to do its work. You said you tested after 2 hours, but it may have still been dropping.

[David]

Adam, your first post only mentioned being back on Lantus as your insulin. You didn't mention Humalog or Novolog. Are you taking either of them. The carb/insulin ratio can only apply to Humalog and Novalog, not Lantus. I'm wondering if you're misunderstanding your doc or I'm misunderstanding you?
David

[Oradev]

I am using Lantus and Humalog at meals.