Correction dose ratios?

Hi all.
Are your QA correction dose ratios different from your normal dose ratios?

I want to know if I can adjust my correction ratio only. ( Dafne along time ago, but still learning).

My reasoning:- When my BG is good and I eat CP's with the correct QA dose my BG is for the most part fair/good. However when I correct a raised BG sometimes nothing happens (very little change) this includes checking again after 3 to 4 hrs later.

I know this is vague as diabetic test results can be effected by many factors. Any light shone on this would be well received.

I think I am understanding you correctly and I have a system that works for me regarding corrections..........

Basically the higher your blood sugar is, the more insulin you need to correct, due to increased insulin resistance at higher levels...........

So the rule that 1 unit will drop you by 2-3mmol/l will not necessarily work at higher levels.......

I done alot of testing and recording and came up with the following system;

BG below 10mmol/l = 1 unit drops 2.5mmol/l

BG between 10-13mmol/l = 1 unit drops 2mmol/l

BG between 13-17mmol/l = 1 units drops 1.5mmol/l

BG above 17mmol/l = 1 unit drops 1mmol/l

This I believe is the general pattern of what works, however everyone is different, and some may need only a couple of different 'correction ratios' and some may need more.......

To test I made sure my carb count was correct and that my ratio was correct, for some these things might not be, so you really need to be sure all doses and ratio are good. Then you simply record how many mmol/l your correction dropped you by and record it........

This means you need to be above target and to different extremes to get a good picture of what 1 unit is doing at different levels, but hopefully my system can give you a rough idea to test with........

I hope that's what you were talking about................

Thanks for your help. I'll experiment.
I currently use 1 unit for 2mmol/l for everything. It is not really working. BG 9.5 this morning 5.30am. I took +3 units QA(a bit more than my correction ratio as I know it doesn't work in the morning) 3hrs later still 9mmol/l. No carbs eaten. lantus 6hrs in.

Are you sure that your BI is correct as it could be that your bloods were rising so the QA dose worked but on the rising BG. Or you may have an extreme Dawn phenonomen? Does the correction dose work as you would expect at other times of the day?

Thank you for your reply. In response: I am more than sure my BI is not correct. I struggle to change it accurately. If I increase it I have hypos in the night. If I leave it I go high in the day. I tend to have a peak sometime in the morning and again at bedtime. The bedtime peak I am sure is from Lantus running out now as I have split my dose.( it doesn't last 24 hours) After doing this I do feel better though. I am not eating carbs, and have been doing this for a while, giving me chance to get to grips with my BI.

I used to have a similar issue with Lantus - was always going low in morning (was only doing 1 dose before bed) but since I changed to Levimir I have not had this happen, I do it before bed and when I wake and it really has made a difference. It might be worth talking to your DSN about changing to this. Once your BI is sorted your QA and correction ratio will be so much easier to get right. Good Luck x

Hi, according to 'experts' at the DAFNE Collaborative lasy year, Lantus IS a 24hr insulin and so it is not working for you if it runs out, I would agree with Debbie that you should try Levemir. Although this is marketed as a 24hr insulin it is definately not and most of us take it in a split dose. It may be that it works better with you anyway as we all react differently to different Insulins. Obviously you would need to do this in co-ordination with your diabetes team so they can monitor and assist in the changeover. It may not fix your issue but you won't know unless you try.

Is Levemir marketed as 24 hour, I thought it was 12-18.............?

I was told by my DSN that it was approx 12hrs so the 2 doses cover 24 hrs.

As does any basal insulin, I think at least in the handbook it said 12-18, all non pumpers should definitely try it out though.....