1. What is the Insulin Correction Factor?

The insulin correction factor (also called insulin sensitivity factor) estimates how much 1 unit of rapid-acting insulin will lower your blood glucose. It's a crucial component of diabetes management.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard formula:

Where:

• 1800 — Constant derived from clinical studies
• Total Daily Dose — Sum of all insulin (basal and bolus) taken in 24 hours

Explanation: The formula estimates that 1 unit of insulin will lower blood glucose by the resulting number of mg/dL.

3. Importance of Correction Factor

Details: Knowing your correction factor helps calculate insulin doses needed to correct high blood glucose levels while avoiding hypoglycemia.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your total daily insulin dose in units. The value must be greater than 0. This is just an estimate - individual responses may vary.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is 1800 used in the formula?
A: 1800 is an empirically derived constant that represents the average total glucose disposal per unit of insulin over 24 hours.

Q2: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides a good starting point but individual factors like insulin sensitivity, activity level, and stress can affect actual results.

Q3: Should I use this for all types of insulin?
A: This factor applies only to rapid-acting insulins (lispro, aspart, glulisine) used for meal coverage and corrections.

Q4: When should I recalculate my correction factor?
A: Recalculate whenever your total daily dose changes significantly, or if you notice consistent under- or over-correction.

Q5: What's the difference between correction factor and insulin-to-carb ratio?
A: Correction factor addresses high blood sugar, while insulin-to-carb ratio is for meal coverage based on carbohydrate intake.