Insulin Dose Calculator
Calculated Insulin Dose:
'; outputHTML += 'Correction Dose: ' + correctionDose + ' units'; outputHTML += 'Mealtime Dose: ' + mealtimeDose + ' units'; outputHTML += 'Total Insulin Dose: ' + totalInsulinDose + ' units'; resultDiv.innerHTML = outputHTML; }Understanding Insulin Dose Calculation
Calculating the correct insulin dose is a critical aspect of managing diabetes, particularly for individuals using multiple daily injections (MDI) or an insulin pump. The goal is to match insulin delivery with the body's needs, preventing both high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Key Factors in Insulin Dosage
Insulin dosage is highly individualized and depends on several factors. This calculator focuses on two primary components of rapid-acting or short-acting insulin doses:
- Correction Dose: This dose is taken to bring down high blood glucose levels to a target range.
- Mealtime (Bolus) Dose: This dose is taken to cover the carbohydrates consumed in a meal, preventing a post-meal blood glucose spike.
Essential Ratios and Factors
To calculate these doses accurately, two personalized factors are crucial:
-
Insulin Sensitivity Factor (ISF) / Correction Factor (CF):
This factor tells you how many points (e.g., mg/dL or mmol/L) your blood glucose will drop for every 1 unit of rapid-acting insulin you take. It's a measure of how sensitive your body is to insulin. For example, an ISF of 50 mg/dL means 1 unit of insulin will lower your blood glucose by 50 mg/dL.
Formula for Correction Dose:
Correction Dose = (Current Blood Glucose - Target Blood Glucose) / Insulin Sensitivity Factor -
Carbohydrate-to-Insulin Ratio (CIR) / Insulin-to-Carb Ratio (ICR):
This ratio indicates how many grams of carbohydrates are covered by 1 unit of rapid-acting insulin. For example, a CIR of 15 means 1 unit of insulin will cover 15 grams of carbohydrates.
Formula for Mealtime Dose:
Mealtime Dose = Total Carbohydrates in Meal / Carbohydrate-to-Insulin Ratio
How the Calculator Works
Our Insulin Dose Calculator combines these two components to provide a total recommended insulin dose:
- Current Blood Glucose (mg/dL): Your blood sugar reading before taking insulin.
- Target Blood Glucose (mg/dL): The ideal blood sugar level you aim for.
- Insulin Sensitivity Factor (mg/dL per unit): Your personal factor indicating how much 1 unit of insulin lowers your blood glucose.
- Carbohydrates to Consume (grams): The total grams of carbohydrates in your upcoming meal or snack.
- Carbohydrate-to-Insulin Ratio (grams per unit): Your personal ratio indicating how many grams of carbs 1 unit of insulin covers.
The calculator first determines if a correction dose is needed (if your current blood glucose is above your target). Then, it calculates the mealtime dose based on your carbohydrate intake. Finally, it sums these two values to give you the total recommended insulin dose.
Example Calculation
Let's say:
- Current Blood Glucose: 200 mg/dL
- Target Blood Glucose: 100 mg/dL
- Insulin Sensitivity Factor: 50 mg/dL per unit
- Carbohydrates to Consume: 60 grams
- Carbohydrate-to-Insulin Ratio: 15 grams per unit
1. Correction Dose:
(200 mg/dL - 100 mg/dL) / 50 mg/dL per unit = 100 / 50 = 2 units
2. Mealtime Dose:
60 grams / 15 grams per unit = 4 units
3. Total Insulin Dose:
2 units (correction) + 4 units (mealtime) = 6 units
Important Disclaimer
This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only and should NOT be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Insulin dosage is complex and must be determined and adjusted by a qualified healthcare professional (e.g., endocrinologist, certified diabetes educator) based on individual needs, lifestyle, and medical conditions. Always consult your doctor or diabetes care team before making any changes to your insulin regimen. Incorrect insulin dosing can lead to serious health consequences, including severe hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.