LMC DiabetesLMC Diabetes

Advanced Diabetes Education Workshop

Presented by LMC Diabetes and Endocrinology

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Objectives

1. Review of oral therapy for type 2 diabetes2. Why do people start Insulin3. Supporting a patient starting insulin4. Types of Insulin and Titrating Insulin5. MDI6. Carb Counting, Insulin to Carb Ratio and Insulin Sensitivity

Factor

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Review of Oral Diabetes Medication

According to CDA 2013 GPG:• Monotherapy roughly reduces A1C by 0.5 to 1.5%• Combination therapy may provide a drop in A1c > 1.5%• The higher the A1C, the larger effect seen by the use of oral

agent (s).• As A1C comes closer to target, pc blood sugars become more

important to keep in target

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Why is insulin initiated?

Different reasons:1. Individuals with symptomatic hyperglycemia and metabolic

decompensation should receive an initial anti-hyperglycemic regimen containing insulin

2. Maxed out on oral therapy3. BS difficult to control with oral agents4. Side effects from oral agents

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InsulinType of Insulin

Starting Dose Titration BG to use for assessment for titration

Oral Meds

Basal Typically 10 units(may be smaller if patient is elderly and of normal weight)

1 unit once a day, OR 2 units every 2 days until FBS target of 4.0-7.0 mmol/L is reached

FBS Physician to decide – typically d/c secretagogue and keep metformin

Pre-mixed 5 to 10 units once or twice daily (pre-breakfast and/or pre-supper).

1 -2 units for both injections until targets met of 4.0-7.0 mmol/L pre-breakfast and pre-dinner

FBS from pre-dinner dosePre-dinner blood sugar from AM dose

Physician to decide – typically d/c secretagogue and keep metformin

Basal/Bolus Total Daily Dose = 0.3 to 0.5 units/kg40% basal insulin20% bolus at breakfast20% bolus at lunch20% bolus at dinner

Basal firstWork towards using insulin to carb ratios and insulin sensitivity factors

Basal – FBSBolus – 2 hr pc meal blood sugars

To be discontinued except metformin at times

Patients should be taught how to self titrate. Regular follow ups should be performed every couple days to monitor hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.

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Feelings around starting insulin

Common feelings: Nervous, Afraid, Angry, Guilty

How to approach patients starting insulin:1. Acknowledge their emotions – ask them how they are feeling2. Remember what is routine for you is VERY NEW to them!3. Explain physiologically why they are starting insulin in a

sympathetic manner 4. Provide reassurance that you are there for support and

provide your contact information

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ActivityFemale Patient AZ comes to see you:• BMI = 32, waist 101 cm• Diabetes for 7 years• Maxed out on triple therapy• SMBG: FBS 9-11 and periodically testing throughout the day –

usually around 6-8 mmol/L when they test• A1C 8.2%• Has tried to lose weight – lifestyle hx reveals fair-good diet with

limited exercise – she is very aware of what she needs to do from a lifestyle perspective

• Patient is seeing the physician after youWhat do you think the physician will say? What do you suggest?

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Activity Answer

1. Reinforce lifestyle changes2. Discuss with physician initiating insulin – triple therapy is

failing with A1C 8.2% 3. Physician sees patient – agrees to initiate insulin

• …………… (cont’d)

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Basal Insulin Activity

Physician suggests Levemir 10 units HS

Questions:1. Outline how you would approach the insulin start consultation?2. Why is the patient starting insulin?3. How should the patient titrate?4. Approx. how long does basal insulin last in the body?5. How can you assess if it is the right dose?6. Where should the patient inject?7. When should the patient test and inject?8. What is the main side effect of insulin?9. Where should the insulin be stored (both current and unopened)?

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Basal Insulin Activity - Answer1. Outline how you would approach the insulin start

consultation?A: Ask AZ how she is feeling about starting insulin. Explain to her

how the session will proceed : “Today I am going to start you on insulin. I am here to help you through this and am always available for questions. Today we will talk about what insulin is, why you are starting insulin, the type of insulin you are starting on, how to inject, storage of insulin, driving instructions, perform a practice injection, and dose and titration instructions”.

• Explain why she is starting insulin and the implications of having an elevated A1C

• Let her know when you will be checking in her with her again – 2 days from now

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Basal Insulin Activity – Answers cont’d

Answers to Questions:2. Why is the patient starting insulin?A1C is 8.2% and she is maxed out on oral therapy3. How should the patient titrate?2 units every 2 days until FBS is <74. Approx. how long does basal insulin last in the body?Approx 22-26 hrs5. How can you assess if it is the right dose?FBS

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Basal Insulin Activity – Answers cont’d

Answers to Questions:6. Where should the patient inject?Best spot is abdomen; other sites: back of the upper arms, the

upper buttocks or hips, and the outer side of the thighs7. When should the patient test and inject?Test HS and FBS and inject at approx same time at night before bed8. What is the main side effect of insulin?Hypoglycemia9. Where should the insulin be stored (current and unopened)?Insulin currently being used room temperature; Unopened in the fridge

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Mixed Insulin Activity

Patient BR: The Endocrinologist is starting the patient on Mix 25 15 units BID. AIC was 9.2%

Questions?1. Why would a doctor start a patient on Mix 25 versus the

other insulin?2. When should the patient test and inject?3. When should the patient change the insulin cartridge?4. How should you titrate the insulin?5. What dietary issues do you need to make sure they are

following?

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Mixed Insulin Activity - Answers

1. Why would a doctor start a patient on Mix 25 versus the other insulin?Need mealtime coverage as well

2. When should the patient test and inject?Before each injection and 2 hrs after breakfast and dinner and inject 10-15 minutes before the meal

3. When should the patient change the insulin cartridge?If not finished before 28 days, then every 28 days.

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Mixed Insulin Activity - Answers

4. How should you titrate the insulin?Individualized – but 1-2 units every 2 days until pre breakfast and pre dinner blood sugars are between 4-7 mmol/L.

5. What dietary issues do you need to make sure they are following?No skipping meals, and eating appropriate portions of carbs at breakfast and lunch to avoid hypoglycemia

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MDI Activity

Patient CW: The Endocrinologist is seeing a pt with an AIC of 10.3% and plans to switch their therapy from orals to insulin. They start the patient on MDI with 6 units of Novorapid q meals and 12 units of Levemir qHS..

Questions?1. Why would a patient benefit from MDI?2. How do you think the patient feels?3. How should you titrate the insulin?4. How can you assess if it is the right dose? 5. When should the patient test and inject?6. When does the Novorapid start to work and approximately how long does the

Novorapid last in the body?7. What basic dietary issues do you need to make sure they are following?

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MDI Activity - Answer

1. Why would a patient benefit from MDI?Flexibility

2. How do you think the patient feels?Major lifestyle change – very nervous

3. How should you titrate the insulin?Basal first and then rapid –1-2 units at a time

4. How can you assess if it is the right dose?With testing

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MDI Activity - Answer

5. When should the patient test and inject?Test: Always before each injection and ideally 2 hrs after each meal while titrating dosesInject: 10-15 minutes before a meal

6. When does the Novorapid start to work and approximately how long does the Novorapid last in the body?Within 10-15 min and lasts 4-5 hrs in the body

7. What basic dietary issues do you need to make sure they are following?Consistent amount of carbs at each meal from day to day

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Insulin to Carb Ratio(IC) and Insulin Sensitivity Factor (ISF):

A patient is ready to use I:C and ISF:• Once a he/she has been on MDI and they are interested in

adjusting their own insulin based on their food intake

Insulin to carb ratio:• A measurement of how much one unit of insulin for will cover

a specified number of carbohydrate grams Insulin Sensitivity Factor:• A measurement of how much one unit of insulin will reduce

blood sugars in mmol/L

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4 steps to Accomplish I:C and ISF

• Step 1: Master Carbohydrate Counting• Step 2: Calculate I:C• Step 3: Calculate ISF• Step 4: Put it all together

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I:C and ISF Facts

• To use the I:C and ISF, patient must be on a basal and bolus regimen

• Only adjust the bolus insulin for I:C and ISF – never adjust basal• Bolus insulin lasts 4-5 hrs in the body• Very individualized and the patient is the expert!• Patient must be willing to carbohydrate count• Patient must be willing to work at figuring out the I:C and ISF by

recording intake, insulin dosage, and testing BS ac and pc meals• A ½ unit pen may help with accuracy for patients• Patients may have a different I:C and/or ISF at different times of

day

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Insulin to Carb Ratio – Mastering Carbohydrate Counting

Carbohydrate Counting Review:1. What is a Carb? - Grains, fruits, milk, and sweets2. How to figure out amount of Carbohydrates in Food:

A. Beyond the Basics – ½ cup cooked pasta = 15 grams, 1 small apple = 15 grams…….

B. Estimate portions: Hockey Puck (1/2 cup), Golf Ball (1/3 cup), Tennis Ball (3/4 cup), Baseball (1 cup), Deck of Cards (3 oz), 6 Dice (1 oz), 1 fist = ~ 1 cup, 2 handfuls = ~ 2 cups

C. Use Food Labels – BEST WAY TO CARB COUNT• Most accurate• Every gram counts!

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Carb Counting Cont’d

Reading Food Labels cont’d:• Subtract fibre from total carbohydrate grams• Subtract Sugar alcohols from total carbohydrate grams

Other facts to consider with carb counting:1. Choose low GI (glycemic index) foods2. Have balanced meals with protein , fat and fibre• Both low GI foods and balanced meals slow down absorption

of food and match the 4-5 hrs of the rapid insulin in the body

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Activity

Mr. ES is in your office…• Pre-breakfast blood sugar = 6.2• Breakfast: 1 slice whole wheat toast, 1 tsp non-hydrogenated

margarine, and ½ cup OJ = 30 grams carbs, patient took 2 units of insulin based on I:C of 1:15

• 2 hr pc blood sugar = 11.1• Pre-lunch blood sugar = 7.1

Questions?1. Why is the 2 hr pc 11.1 and the pre-lunch 7.1?2. What do you need to change to get better BS results?

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Activity Answer

• Breakfast meal is high glycemic index and not balanced

How to change the breakfast:• Add protein - more balanced with carbs, protein and fat• Switch orange juice to an orange – lower GI• Overall the addition of protein and switch to lower GI fruit will

slow down the absorption of the carbs match the rapid insulin better

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Calculating the Insulin to Carb Ratio

1. Have at least one days worth of carb intake from your patient:• Option 1: have patient bring in 3 days of typical eating• Option 2: record a usual day of eating with them

2. Teach patient how to carb count and have them carb count their food record/typical day (during their session with you)

3. Record how much insulin the patient takes before each meal and before bedtime, if their blood sugars were in target when they tested (the goal is not to have them include “extra” insulin they use for correcting high blood sugars)• Note: if patient is always “high” or “low” then use their

current numbers, but keep this in mind when calculating

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Calculating the Insulin to Carb Ratio

• Three methods to use for calculating the I:C:

• Method 1: 480 Rule480/TTD(Total Daily Dose) _____of insulin units = _____ • Method 2: Usual Carbs Actual Carbs Eaten ÷ Actual Meal Bolus Dose • B= _____g Carbs ÷ _____ U insulin = 1 U for every _____ g Carbs• L= _____g Carbs ÷ _____ U insulin = 1 U for every _____ g Carbs• D= _____g Carbs ÷ _____ U insulin = 1 U for every _____ g Carbs

Method 3: Average Carbs• Average Carbs/day = ______÷ total daily bolus requirement______ = 1

unit for every _____ g Carbs

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Which I:C method to try?

1. The patient should ask themselves – which one are they most comfortable with?

2. Allow the patient to run through a scenario using each method and see which insulin dose seems the most realistic?

3. If method 2 seems like it works – that will be the most accurate4. If patient’s blood sugars are inconsistent and you don’t know where to

start, use method 15. If all 3 methods are giving different numbers, find a happy medium6. If a patient is always “high” use a lower I:C then they have been using7. If a patient is always “low” use a higher I:C then they have been using

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……and now the Insulin Sensitivity FactorCalculating the ISF:Formula: 100/TDD ___=___. Therefore, 1 unit of rapid acting insulin will ↓ BS ____

mmol/L Ie. TDD = 50

ISF = 100/50 = 2. Therefore, 1 unit of rapid acting insulin will ↓ BS by 2 mmol/L.

Using the ISF: Correction Dose: (Current BG – goal BG ) ÷ ISF ____ = _____ U extra insulin to take

with meal.Ie. Current BS = 12, ISF = 2 Correction Dose: (12-6 (goal BS)) ÷ 2= 3 U extra insulin to take with meal.

NOTE: • A GOAL BS of 6.0 is a safe target for pre-meal BS• A GOAL BS of 8.0 is a safe target for a pre-meal BS but pc snack. (this is a tough

concept to teach)

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Putting the two together…….

1. Count your carbs2. Divide carbs by your I:C

Do not round3. Test your blood sugars4. If above target, correct BS

Do not round5. Calculate insulin units from #2 and #4 for total insulin

needed at this meal Round

Units of insulin based on carb intake

Units of insulin based on blood sugar

Total insulin units to take

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Putting the two together…….

1. Count your carbs = 45 grams2. Divide carbs by your I:C =45/9 =5 Units

Do not round3. Test your blood sugars =12.04. If above target, correct BS ISF = 3 (12.0-6) / 3

=2 Units Do not round

5. Calculate insulin units from #2 and #4 for total insulin needed at this meal

Round 5 + 2 = 7 total units of insulin

Units of insulin based on carb intake

Units of insulin based on blood sugar

Total insulin units to take

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Useful Tips for IC and ISF

1. Do not correct a 2 hrs pc blood sugar as the patient will get insulin stacking and may have a hypoglycemic reaction

2. If your 2 hrs pc meal test is > 10 mmol/L – the patient has to ask themselves – what did I eat? Did I count the carbs properly? Was the food high GI? Was my meal balanced?

3. If you pre-meal blood sugar is above 4-7, did you just have a snack 2 hrs before – is this really a post meal/snack blood sugar? If so, use 8.0 as a target, not 6.0 when correcting

4. Use a half unit pen5. Limit snacks to 15 grams of carbs or less until I:C and ISF

have been figured out

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Now that you are done…..Let’s see if it works - Testing the I:C

Have the patient do the following:1. Use the I:C and ISF that you and the patient had calculated

and apply it2. Record food intake – carb amounts, including timing of meals

and snacks for 3 days3. Record insulin intake for those 3 days4. Test 7 times/day – before each meal and 2 hrs after each

meal, along with HS

At next appointment, review, adjust and try again!

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I:C AND ISF Activity

Patient DS Food diary reveals:• Breakfast: 1.5 cups of Special K cereal, 1 cup milk • Lunch: Tuna Sandwich: 2 slices rye bread, 1 cup skim milk,

Green Salad with 1 T balsamic dressing• Afternoon Snack: 1 small banana, 7 soda crackers, 1 oz

mozzarella cheese,• Dinner: 5 oz of chicken with olive oil salt and pepper, 1 ear of

corn, 1 cup broccoli, 1 small apple

Activity:1. Count the carbs2. Any other suggestions?

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IC AND ISF Activity Answer

Patient DS Food diary reveals:• Breakfast: 45 grams• Lunch: 47 grams• Afternoon Snack: 30 grams• Dinner: 45 grams

Suggestions:1. Balance out breakfast with protein or fibre2. Limit afternoon snack to 15 grams

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I:C Activity

Her normal dosages: 5 units bolus/meal, 18 units basal HS, TDD = 33 units

Calculate all 3 methods:• Method 1: 480 Rule480/TTD _____U = _____ • Method 2: Usual Carbs Actual Carbs Eaten ÷ Actual Meal Bolus Dose • B= _____g Carbs ÷ _____ U insulin = 1 U for every _____ g Carbs• L= _____g Carbs ÷ _____ U insulin = 1 U for every _____ g Carbs• D= _____g Carbs ÷ _____ U insulin = 1 U for every _____ g Carbs

Method 3: Average Carbs• Average Carbs/day = ______÷ total daily bolus requirement______ = 1 unit for

every _____ g Carbs

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Activity: Calculating The I:C - Answer

Patient DS dosages: 5 units bolus/meal, 18 units basal HS, TDD = 33 units

Method 1: 480 Rule480/TTD (33)U = 14.5 • Method 2: Usual Carbs Actual Carbs Eaten ÷ Actual Meal Bolus Dose • B= 45 g Carbs ÷ 5 U insulin = 1 U for every 9 g Carbs• L= 45 g Carbs ÷ 5 U insulin = 1 U for every 9 g Carbs• D= 45 g Carbs ÷ 5 U insulin = 1 U for every 9 g Carbs

Method 3: Average Carbs• Average Carbs/day = 135 ÷ total daily bolus requirement 15= 1 unit for every 15 g

Carbs

WHICH METHOD WOULD YOU USE?

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Activity: Answer Cont’d

• Use Method 2!

• Now Calculate the ISF:

100/TDD _____ = ______. Therefore, 1 unit of rapid acting insulin will ↓ BS _____ mmol/L

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Activity Cont’d

100/TDD 33 = 3. Therefore, 1 unit of rapid acting insulin will ↓ BS 3 mmol/L

Final Summary of the I:C and ISF for the patient to use:

I:CB = 9L = 9D = 9ISF = 3

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Activity Cont’d

Scenario Questions based on the I:C of 1:9/ meal and ISF of 3

1. Lunch– premeal sugar is 8.2 mmol/L, total carb intake is 35 grams – how much insulin should she take?

2. Dinner - Pre-dinner sugar is 12.2 mmol/L – had snack 2 hrs before of an apple, total dinner carb intake is 62 grams – how much insulin should she take?

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Activity cont’d – Lunch Answer

1. Grams of carbohydrates = 35g 2. Divide carbs by your I:C - 9

3. Blood Sugar = 8.3 mmol/L4. Use ISF: (8.3 – 6)/3 =

5. Calculate insulin units from #2 and #4 for total insulin needed at this meal

I would have patient have a half unit pen and take 4.5 units

3.8

0.77

4.6

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Activity cont’d – Dinner Answer

1. Grams of carbs = 62g2. Divide carbs by your I:C - 9

3. Blood Sugar = 12.2 mmol/L4. Calculate ISF = (12.2 – 8)/3 =

5. Calculate insulin units from #2 and #4 for total insulin needed at this meal

I would have the patient take 8 units

6.8

1.4

8.2

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Other Variables to consider with insulin

1. Change in weight – weight gain requires more insulin and weight loss requires less.

2. Change in weather or season – warmer months people tend to be more active and insulin is more sensitive in warmer months; therefore, a lower TDD may be necessary.

3. Menstruation – many women will find that their need for insulin will rise in the days before their menstrual period beings.

4. Illness – a higher TDD with both larger boluses and higher basal rates is often needed to counteract this physical stress.

5. Travel – insulin may need to be adjusted when traveling over >3 time zones.

6. Problems with glucometer – may be using insufficient amount of blood, not coding, meter accuracy

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Conclusion

• Insulin is a common treatment in diabetes management• As the diabetes educator, it is important to be a genuine

source of support for the patient• Every patient is different – individualize their care and make

changes accordingly• With time & insulin titrations, the I:C and ISF become easier to

manage and adjust• Help your patients manage their blood sugar with insulin

starts, titrations, and ongoing management for the ultimate goal of tighter control, and a healthier and happier lifestyle!