[Diabetes-Talk] re a good tutorial or introduction on how to use rapid acting insulin as i have just been place on it for the first time

[Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter]

Ultimately, it's all individualized. It really depends on the specific
person and how their body absorbs carbs and insulin. The reason taking
insulin after a meal is considered outdated is because you're stuck into
eating a set amount of carbs in order to balance it out with insulin
in-take. However, if you're body absorbs carbs faster than insulin, it makes
more sense to take a dose before eating. But again, you are then locked into
eating said amount. This is not based on just my personal experience, but
from articles and what endos have said. Nonetheless, there's not a
one-size-fits-all scenario here. What works for me doesn't work for every
diabetic. Diabetes management is very specific to the individual. For 20
years, I bolused before meals, but then I had to eat a set amount of carbs.
I've never had a big appetite, but if I couldn't finish a meal, I knew I
would be in trouble if I didn't eat it all. Then, about 15, 16 years ago, I
was instructed to bolus after a meal. This way, I had more control over what
I eat. I absorb insulin faster than I do carbs. But yes, this works for me;
not suggesting this works for everyone. This is why it's crucial a diabetic
work with a specialist on creating a carb/insulin ratio. Also, with the
sliding scale, in general, the 1/200 works for me. But I do tweak it a bit,
an my doctor is aware of this. For example, if I'm between 220 and 249, I
usually take 1.5 units. And since Dexcom informs me if I'm raising quickly
or slowly, this also allows me to tweak a correction. But this is all what
works for me. And I've worked with my my endo on creating this protocol.
After 36 years of being diabetic, it's at a point where I can make
adjustments without my endo's in-put, but it takes time and trial and error
to get to this point. My main point is that I can share my personal
experiences, but  my protocol will not work for everyone. Diabetes is super
specific to the individual.

Bridgit