How much insulin per day?

Asked by: Dr. Juanita Predovic  |  Last update: August 29, 2023
Score: 4.9/5 (48 votes)

In patients with type 2 diabetes, marked obesity, and insulin resistance, total daily insulin doses of 200 to 300 units are often required. In this setting, management for most patients includes a total of 1.0 to 2.0 units of insulin per kilogram per day; thus, in very obese patients, a larger total dose is required.

How many units of insulin a day is normal?

Recommended Dose

For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, your total daily insulin requirement is 40 units. If you weigh 220 pounds, your total daily insulin requirement is 55 units.

How much insulin can I inject in a day?

The types of insulin used depend on their blood glucose levels. Studies have shown that three or four injections of insulin a day give the best blood glucose control and can prevent or delay the eye, kidney, and nerve damage caused by diabetes.

How much insulin does a diabetic use a day?

Most people with diabetes need at least 2 insulin shots a day. Some people need 3 or 4 shots for good blood sugar control.

What is proper insulin dosing?

Or your doctor may base the first dose on your weight, based on about 0.2 units for every 2.2 pounds. This may be less than you need, but it's a good starting point. Your dose may go up two to four units every 3 days until you reach your fasting blood sugar target. That's usually 80 to 130 mg/dL.

How to adjust insulin dose in Diabetic individual? - Dr. Sharat Honnatti

29 related questions found

How much insulin to take for 350 blood sugar?

70-139 mg/dL - 0 units 140-180 mg/dL - 3 units subcut 181-240 mg/dL - 4 units subcut 241-300 mg/dL - 6 units subcut 301-350 mg/dL - 8 units subcut 351-400 mg/dL - 10 units subcut If blood glucose is greater than 400 mg/dL, administer 12 units subcut, notify provider, and repeat POC blood sugar check in 1 hour.

How many units of insulin do I need for 200 blood sugar?

If your premeal blood sugar level is between 121 and 170, or up to 50 points above the 120 mark, you'd take 1 extra unit of insulin; if it is between 171 and 220, or between 51 and 100 points above the 120 mark, you'd take 2 extra units; if it is between 221 and 270, or between 101 and 150 points above the 120 mark, ...

Is too much insulin bad for a diabetic?

Insulin is an important hormone that serves as a medical treatment for many people with diabetes. It helps the body's cells absorb sugar properly. If a person with diabetes takes insulin correctly, it can save their life. However, insulin overdose can be life-threatening.

Is 200 units of insulin a day a lot?

In patients with type 2 diabetes, marked obesity, and insulin resistance, total daily insulin doses of 200 to 300 units are often required. In this setting, management for most patients includes a total of 1.0 to 2.0 units of insulin per kilogram per day; thus, in very obese patients, a larger total dose is required.

Is it good to inject insulin everyday?

With type 1 diabetes, the body does not make any insulin and therefore insulin has to be injected regularly every day to stay alive. With type 2 diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin, or the insulin that is made does not work well. Insulin injections are sometimes needed to manage blood glucose levels.

How long does it take for insulin to lower blood sugar?

Rapid-acting insulin starts to lower blood sugar within 15 minutes and its effects last for 2 to 4 hours. Short-acting insulin starts to work within 30 minutes and its effects last for 3 to 6 hours. Intermediate-acting insulin starts to work within 2 to 4 hours and lasts for 12 to 18 hours.

Is 10 units of insulin a lot for type 2 diabetes?

Basal insulin is usually started at a low dose (10 to 20 units) and then increased gradually to determine the right dose for an individual. Using a combination of treatments (ie, an oral medication plus insulin) generally lowers the dose of insulin compared with taking insulin only.

What happens if you take too much insulin?

Sometimes, you can accidentally take more insulin than you need, which can result in an overdose. This can be very serious, and may lead to severe hypos. The worst cases can make you feel disorientated, cause you to have seizures and could even lead to death.

Is 10 units of insulin enough?

Theoretically, to reduce 400 mg/dL blood sugar to about 100 mg/dL, you would need at least 10 units of insulin. However, depending on your weight and other factors, a higher dose of insulin is almost always required.

Does insulin damage your kidneys?

In healthy subjects, insulin has little or no effect on renal hemodynamics, glomerular filtration rate, or permeability to albumin. In patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes, hyperinsulinemia selectively increases urinary albumin excretion.

Can you take insulin without eating if blood sugar is high?

Take insulin, but don't eat: Rapid-acting and short-acting insulin injections should be taken just before or with meals. Your blood sugar rises after meals. Taking rapid-acting or short-acting insulin without eating could lower your sugar to a dangerous level. Inject insulin in an arm or leg just before exercise .

Can you drink insulin instead injecting?

If we swallowed insulin the digestive enzymes in our stomach would break it down before reaching our bloodstream. Therefore, at this time, all insulin must be injected into our body.

When should I check my blood sugar after insulin injection?

Testing is usually recommended before meals and at bedtime if you're taking multiple daily injections. You may need to test only before breakfast and sometimes before dinner or at bedtime if you use just an intermediate- or a long-acting insulin.

What if insulin is not lowering blood sugar?

Increase Insulin

If the insulin dose you take isn't enough to lower high blood sugar, your doctor may change how much you take and how you take it. For instance, they may ask you to: Increase your dose. Take a fast-acting type before meals to help with swings in blood sugar after you eat.

Is 15 units of Lantus a lot?

The maximum starting dosage of Lantus is 10 units per day. If you have type 2 diabetes and are switching from a different insulin, your doctor will prescribe the dosage that's best for you. They'll consider the type and amount of insulin you used to decide your dosage of Lantus.

Is 300 blood sugar high for a diabetic?

What is high blood sugar? In general, a blood sugar reading of more than 180 mg/dL or any reading above your target range is too high. A blood sugar reading of 300 mg/dL or more can be dangerous. If you have 2 readings in a row of 300 or more, call your doctor.

How can I lower my blood sugar quickly?

Dietary changes, exercise, and many other things can eventually help you decrease your blood sugar levels. However, this process is not immediate. The only way to lower blood sugar immediately is to take insulin, administered by the doctor, or to take potent supplements, which will react within 3-4 hours.

Is 230 a high blood sugar for a diabetic?

Blood glucose is commonly considered too high if it is higher than 130 mg/dl before a meal or higher than 180 mg/dl two hours after the first bite of a meal. However, most of the signs and symptoms of high blood glucose don't appear until the blood glucose level is higher than 250 mg/dl.