On average, how many correction boluses would you estimate you give yourself in a day, excluding the times you are also bolusing for food?
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Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Manager of Marketing at T1D Exchange.
I try to keep a very tight range, so I am correcting for anything over about 90. It makes post-meal calculations a little complicated if there is insulin on board, and my bG is rising, but I make do.
The definition of correction bolus is needed to answer this. I’ve found if I give the total calculated bolus for some meals I’ll go low and then go higher than it should, but if I give part of the calculated bolus up front and the rest 1-2 hours after I don’t whipsaw around. It may be I need to dial in the ICR better.
Agreed, correction bolus implies something went wrong when the fact of the matter is we never know all of the variables. I prefer to make adjustments since perfection doesn’t exist.
More than 10 – I’m looping using automatic bolus (AB) algorithm with my pump. The algorithm calculates when to give me a correction bolus based on readings from my CGM. Works very well and has changed my life regarding managing my T1D.
I make correction bolus adjustments when my sensor says my BG is rising above what my insulin on board can handle. Those bolus decisions are the 1-2/day that I reported. I use Control IQ. Those bolus adjustments come much more frequently, but I am usually not aware of them unless I happen to check at odd times. I have know real awareness of their frequency.
It’s usually on days when I eat something that takes longer to increase my glucose level. I’ll be good for 2-3 hours and then when the insulin is about done, by glucose goes up. I have to do adjustments for that.
On average Loop delivers 76 boluses a day including those for food. I personally only deliver the food boluses. Loop takes care of the micro boluses automatically.
With Control IQ I’m not aware of the mini corrections. The corrections I make are usually after a late lunch or if my bg level goes up to 200+ after a high carb dinner.
I said other. I can go Wells with only 1-2 then I can have a bad site, eat something I shouldn’t, underestimate carbs, etc, and I’m giving 3-5 in a day.
I’ll go for a short walk or otherwise get active before I do a correction bolus, though then I have to watch for too fast a drop. As others have said, if there is a pump problem or I am eating something really glycemic, then I will use Afrezza or an IM injection.
My average corrections per day with Tandem control IQ is 3.
It is rare that I would give myself a correction; when something is wrong and my BG is not responding. This happened recently and my profile needed to be changed.
I use multiple daily injections (MDI). I’m getting much better control with my Dexcom G6. So if I get an alert that my bg is 130 or slightly above, I try to inject 0.5 units lispro. I tried to order syringes that measure in half units, but pharmacist refused me saying “those were only for children.” I get the feeling some doctors, nurses and pharmacists think patients are ALL complete nitwits. From the cynical medical file comments written by one young doctor, it was obvious she was really fed up with her “stupid” patients. In the past I’ve even been told that achieving normal blood glucose levels (for insulin dependent) is “too risky.” Until the medical community becomes informed about the benefits of continuous blood glucose meters and prescribes them for ALL diabetics, doctors & nurses will EXPECT ALL their diabetic patients to be nincompoops and their patients will subconsciously behave to meet those nonverbally communicated expectations. I’m pleased to see TV adverts for Libre and Dexcom. It’s too bad our medical system denies insulin pumps to all but a select few who can afford them.
I am a brittle diabetic and have a very fast metabolism. My BGs change very rapidly, especially during stress. No pump nor fast-acting insulin has been able to adequately prevent the rapid rise in BG
On average, how many correction boluses would you estimate you give yourself in a day, excluding the times you are also bolusing for food? Cancel reply
I try to keep a very tight range, so I am correcting for anything over about 90. It makes post-meal calculations a little complicated if there is insulin on board, and my bG is rising, but I make do.
The definition of correction bolus is needed to answer this. I’ve found if I give the total calculated bolus for some meals I’ll go low and then go higher than it should, but if I give part of the calculated bolus up front and the rest 1-2 hours after I don’t whipsaw around. It may be I need to dial in the ICR better.
Agreed, correction bolus implies something went wrong when the fact of the matter is we never know all of the variables. I prefer to make adjustments since perfection doesn’t exist.
More than 10 – I’m looping using automatic bolus (AB) algorithm with my pump. The algorithm calculates when to give me a correction bolus based on readings from my CGM. Works very well and has changed my life regarding managing my T1D.
Less now that I use Tandem pump with control I Q.
A more accurate response would be 0-4 – Just depends on the day…..
I make correction bolus adjustments when my sensor says my BG is rising above what my insulin on board can handle. Those bolus decisions are the 1-2/day that I reported. I use Control IQ. Those bolus adjustments come much more frequently, but I am usually not aware of them unless I happen to check at odd times. I have know real awareness of their frequency.
It’s usually on days when I eat something that takes longer to increase my glucose level. I’ll be good for 2-3 hours and then when the insulin is about done, by glucose goes up. I have to do adjustments for that.
On average Loop delivers 76 boluses a day including those for food. I personally only deliver the food boluses. Loop takes care of the micro boluses automatically.
On Tandem CIQ so it’s the number of corrections per week, around 4
Same here
This where I am at too. Wish that would have been an answer choice.
I precorrect; i.e., over or under recommended bolus in relation to carbohydrates.
I answered 3-4 but 1-3 would be more accurate. My usual “correction” is to reduce my basal rate.
I have the same experience as TomH.
With Control IQ I’m not aware of the mini corrections. The corrections I make are usually after a late lunch or if my bg level goes up to 200+ after a high carb dinner.
I said other. I can go Wells with only 1-2 then I can have a bad site, eat something I shouldn’t, underestimate carbs, etc, and I’m giving 3-5 in a day.
I’ll go for a short walk or otherwise get active before I do a correction bolus, though then I have to watch for too fast a drop. As others have said, if there is a pump problem or I am eating something really glycemic, then I will use Afrezza or an IM injection.
I said other as I am on a DIY Loop system. The algorithm does the adjustment before I am aware that an adjustment is needed.
0-1. But that option wasn’t available.
My average corrections per day with Tandem control IQ is 3.
It is rare that I would give myself a correction; when something is wrong and my BG is not responding. This happened recently and my profile needed to be changed.
I graze throughout the day so I tend to give myself food boluses about 6 times a day. Then correction boluses average 1-2 times a day.
Somewhere between 1 – 3, but I have a lot of variability.
I use multiple daily injections (MDI). I’m getting much better control with my Dexcom G6. So if I get an alert that my bg is 130 or slightly above, I try to inject 0.5 units lispro. I tried to order syringes that measure in half units, but pharmacist refused me saying “those were only for children.” I get the feeling some doctors, nurses and pharmacists think patients are ALL complete nitwits. From the cynical medical file comments written by one young doctor, it was obvious she was really fed up with her “stupid” patients. In the past I’ve even been told that achieving normal blood glucose levels (for insulin dependent) is “too risky.” Until the medical community becomes informed about the benefits of continuous blood glucose meters and prescribes them for ALL diabetics, doctors & nurses will EXPECT ALL their diabetic patients to be nincompoops and their patients will subconsciously behave to meet those nonverbally communicated expectations. I’m pleased to see TV adverts for Libre and Dexcom. It’s too bad our medical system denies insulin pumps to all but a select few who can afford them.
I am a brittle diabetic and have a very fast metabolism. My BGs change very rapidly, especially during stress. No pump nor fast-acting insulin has been able to adequately prevent the rapid rise in BG