TermDefinitions and examples

  • Basal insulin

  • Sometimes referred to as background insulin

  • Administered to help control blood glucose levels between meals and while sleeping

  • Suggested empiric TBD formulas:

  • TBD = 0.2 × weight (kg)

  • TBD = 0.4 × total daily insulin dose

  • Rapid- or short-acting insulin administered with meals to cover carbohydrate intake or administered one time to correct for hyperglycemia

  • Bolus insulin

  • Insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio (ICR)

  • Calculated for a particular patient and particular meal

  • The amount of carbohydrates (g) that, when eaten, will require 1 unit of insulin (e.g., a ratio of 1:6 at breakfast equals 1 unit of insulin for every 6 g of carbohydrate eaten at breakfast)

  • Suggested empiric ICR formula:

  • ICR = 100 / TBD

  • Correction factor (CF)

  • The drop in blood glucose level expected to be achieved by administering 1 unit of insulin (e.g., a correction factor of 1:25 means that administering 1 unit of insulin decreases blood glucose level by 25 mg per dL)

  • The correction factor may be written as a ratio or as a whole number (i.e., CF = 1:25 or 25)

  • Suggested empiric CF formula:

  • CF = ICR × 4.5