some people need 1 unit of insulin for every 1 mmol/L increase in blood sugar.The average adult needs approximately 1 unit of insulin for every 2 mmol increase in blood sugar, but this can vary a lot between individuals: Therefore, one unit of rapid acting insulin would lower Tom’s blood sugar by 2 mmol/L over the next 2 to 4 hours. daily insulin dose: 8 units at breakfast, 6 units at lunch,10 at dinner and N/NPH 8 units at breakfast and 18 units at 10 pm.For example, Tom wants to calculate his correction factor: To get your total daily dose, add up all your usual meal time insulin and basal insulin.
It may need to change as your baseline dose changesĮxpect variations - sometimes 1 unit will lower it by more, and other times 1unit will lower it by less!Ĭalculating how much 1 unit of insulin will drop your blood sugar is a trial and error process, and sensitivity to insulin varies with the individual A Correction Factor (sometimes called insulin sensitivity), is how much 1 unit of rapid acting insulin will generally lower your blood glucose over 2 to 4 hours when you are in a fasting or pre-meal state.