Use Insulin Dose Calculator to determine the proper insulin dosage. . 

Insulin Dose Calculator

Insulin Dose Calculator

Calculate your recommended insulin dose based on your carbohydrate intake and blood sugar correction.

* All values must be entered in the specified units.

Step 1: Enter Your Data

Total grams of carbohydrates in your meal.

Grams of carbohydrate covered by 1 unit of insulin.

Your current blood sugar level.

Your desired blood sugar level.

How much 1 unit of insulin lowers your blood sugar.

How It Works

The insulin dose is calculated by combining:

  • Carb Coverage Dose: Carbs (g) ÷ Insulin-to-Carb Ratio.
  • Correction Dose: (Current BG − Target BG) ÷ Insulin Sensitivity Factor, if current BG is above target (otherwise 0).

Total Dose = Carb Coverage Dose + Correction Dose.

Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized advice.

Calculating Insulin Dosage: A Practical Guide

Step 1: Calculate Total Daily Dose (TDD)

Calculate your Total Daily Dose (TDD) of insulin based on body weight:

  • Formula:
    • Pounds (lbs): Divide your weight by 4.
    • Kilograms (kg): Multiply your weight by 0.55.
  • Example:
    • Pounds: If your weight is 160 lbs, TDD = 160 lbs ÷ 4 = 40 units.
    • Kilograms: 72.7 kg × 0.55 = 40 units

Basal-Bolus Insulin Distribution

Typically, insulin doses are split into:

  • 40% Basal insulin (background insulin)
  • 60% Bolus insulin (meal-time insulin)

Example:

  • TDD = 40 units
    • Basal = 40% × 40 units = 16 units
    • Bolus = 60% × 40 units = 24 units

Correction Factor (Insulin Sensitivity Factor)

Determines how much your blood glucose (BG) will drop with 1 unit of insulin:

  • Rapid-acting insulin: Correction Factor = 1800 ÷ TDD
  • Regular insulin: Correction Factor = 1500 ÷ TDD

Example:

  • TDD = 40 units
    • Rapid-acting insulin: 1800 ÷ 40 = 45 (mg/dL drop per unit insulin)

Applying the Correction Factor

If your blood glucose (BG) is above your target range, use the correction factor to determine how much additional insulin you need:

  • Formula:(Current BG - Target BG) ÷ Correction Factor

Example:

  • Current BG = 160 mg/dL
  • Target BG = 90 mg/dL
  • Correction Factor = 37.5 (1500 ÷ 40)
    • Units required: (160 - 90) ÷ 37.5 ≈ 1.9 units

Carb-to-Insulin Ratio (C:I ratio)

The Carb-to-Insulin ratio indicates how many grams of carbohydrates 1 unit of insulin will cover:

  • Formula: 500 ÷ TDD

Example:

  • TDD = 40 units
    • Carb to Insulin Ratio: 500 ÷ 40 = 12.5 (grams/unit)

To calculate the insulin dose for a meal:

  • Formula: Total carbs ÷ Carb to Insulin Ratio

Example:

  • Meal carbs = 90 grams
    • Insulin needed: 90 ÷ 12.5 = 7.2 units

Adjustment guidance:

  • If BG is consistently above target range (2-3 days), decrease the Carb to Insulin ratio by 10-20%.
  • If consistently below the target, increase the Carb to Insulin Ratio by 10-20%.

This approach ensures personalized, accurate dosing for optimal blood sugar control.