Ratios within Type 1 Diabetes:
For Type 1 diabetics there are two main ratios we need to know and understand, one that does not rely too much on calculations, and a few other factors that can alter or contribute to a change in those factors. The two main factors are the correction factor ratio and the carb to insulin ratio. The one that does not rely too much on calculation is the basal to fast acting insulin ratio. Lastly, a few contributors to changes are the target range for glucose and insulin action time.
What is a Correction Factor Ratio?
A correction factor ratio is the amount 1 unit of insulin drops your blood sugars. So, if you have a correction factor ratio of 1 to 30, then you must do 1 unit to drop you 30 units. Say my blood sugar is out of range, say I am 250, but my target glucose is 115. My ratio is 1:30, then I need to do 4.5 units of insulin.
What is a Carb to Insulin Ratio?
A carb to insulin ratio is the amount of carbs needed for 1 unit of insulin. So, if you have a carb to insulin ratio of 1 to 10, then, for every 10 carbs you eat, you must do 1 unit of insulin. Take my go-to meal at chick-fil-a, an 8-count nugget meal with a sweet tea (I know, most diabetics just do a diet drink, but ONE thing I refuse to give up is sweet tea). If you look up Chick-fil-A’s nutrition sheet, you can see this meal has 87 grams of carbs total (nuggets are 11, fries are 45, and sweet tea is 11). So, you would do 8.7 units of insulin. If you are on a pump, usually you are able to do the exact amount, but if you are on shots like me, you would either do 8.5 or 9 units of insulin.
Basal Insulin to Fast Acting Insulin Ratio:
While this is not quite a ratio, it does show the percentage of what it needs to be. Your basal is your long-acting insulin, if you do shots. If you use a pump, your basal is the amount of insulin you receive every hour throughout the day. For non-diabetics, your pancreas releases small doses of insulin every hour to regulate your blood sugar. For diabetics, we either use long-acting (this supposedly lasts the entire day), or using pumps, small doses are given each hour like a pancreas would. The fast-acting insulin is what you take when you eat or to correct your blood sugars. The ratio between the two should be pretty much 1 to 1, or maybe 2 to 3. The 2 would be your basal, while 3 would be your fast-acting.
Other Factors that Contribute to these Ratios:
Target Range, and Insulin Action Time are the main factors that can change those factors a bit. My target range is between 80mg/dL and 180 mg/dL, so my goal is to stay within these numbers. If I go below 80 mg/dL then I need to have a fast-acting carb to get my sugars up. If I go above 180 mg/dL my blood is toxic and I need to correct, using my insulin correction factor ratio. For Insulin Action Time, this helps you understand how many units of insulin you have on board (in your system). Knowing this can help you not stack insulin or over correct causing lows.
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Peace
Gracie
