If you take rapid acting insulin, otherwise known as bolus insulin, for your meals, technology can help make dosing easier. There is a smart meter available called Accu-Chek Expert that has a built-in insulin calculator that helps you know how much insulin to take based on your current blood sugar and how much carbohydrate you are going to eat. It is set up with parameters individualized to you, including your blood glucose target, insulin to carbohydrate ratio, and sensitivity factor.
- Blood glucose target is just as it sounds, the range in which you want your blood sugar to be.
- Insulin to carb ratio is how many grams of carbohydrate are covered by one unit of insulin.
- Sensitivity factor is how many points (mg/dl) your blood sugar is expected to go down with one unit of insulin.
Like all meters, you test your blood sugar with a test strip and your blood sugar shows up on the screen. But what’s special about this meter is what happens next. It will ask if you are going to eat, and if so, how many grams of carbohydrate will you consume. You enter the number. Technology enables the meter to suggest how much rapid acting insulin to take. It takes into account your current blood sugar. If it is above the target range it will suggest some insulin to bring it into target, as well as, insulin to cover the amount of carbohydrate you are about to eat.
There are important safety features associated with the meter also. For instance, you confirm that you are going to take the insulin dose that is recommended, or adjust the dose, and then confirm. The meter “remembers” when your last dose was taken and will not suggest more insulin to correct a high blood sugar if you still have insulin “on board”. This prevents “stacking ” of insulin which can lead to the dreaded low glucose.
The other really cool feature of this meter is the reports that you can download easily and see what is going on with your blood sugars. With this data, adjustments can be made to your settings or treatment plan to bring your glucose into target more often, therefore, improving your health. I have seen improvements in A1C of up to 1-2 points with my clients on the Expert meter . Clients tell me they are more confident in knowing how much insulin to take, and like seeing their glucose in target more often. They feel more in control of their diabetes. Episodes of hypoglycemia are greatly reduced as well, which is a huge comfort.
If you check your blood sugar 3-4 times a day, count your carbohydrate, and take rapid acting insulin (brand names Apidra, Humalog, or Novolog) you might really like the benefits of this meter. For more information, click here
If you want help with carbohydrate counting or another area of diabetes, reach out to me. Click here
Disclosure: I am a contracted trainer for Accu-Chek Expert. I am paid by Accu-Chek to set up and train people on this meter in the Panama City area.
Leave a Reply