Insulin Delivery
Definition
The cumulative amount of insulin delivered, measured in International Units (IU or U). Tracked for people using insulin pumps or smart insulin pens.
Why It Matters
Insulin tracking is essential for diabetes management: - Dosing records - Complete insulin history - Pattern analysis - Understanding insulin needs - Basal vs bolus - Different insulin types serve different purposes - Treatment optimization - Adjusting doses based on patterns - Safety auditing - Preventing errors, tracking usage
How It's Tracked
- Insulin pumps - Automated logging (Omnipod, Tandem, Medtronic, etc.)
- Smart pens - Connected insulin pens (InPen, NovoPen Echo, etc.)
- CGM integration - Automated insulin delivery systems
- Manual logging - User-entered injections
Insulin Types
| Type | Onset | Peak | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid-acting | 15 min | 1-2 hr | 3-4 hr |
| Short-acting | 30 min | 2-3 hr | 5-6 hr |
| Intermediate | 2-4 hr | 4-12 hr | 12-18 hr |
| Long-acting | 1-2 hr | Minimal | 24+ hr |
Key Metrics
Basal Insulin
- Background insulin for fasting glucose control
- Delivered continuously (pump) or as long-acting injection
- Typically 40-50% of total daily insulin
Bolus Insulin
- Covers meals and corrects high glucose
- Rapid/short-acting insulin
- Dosed based on carbs and correction factor
Total Daily Dose (TDD)
- Sum of all insulin delivered in 24 hours
- Used to calculate pump settings
- Varies by individual, typically 0.5-1.0 U/kg/day
Confounders & Limitations
- Incomplete logging - Manual entries may be missed
- Absorption variability - Same dose, different effect
- Site issues - Lipohypertrophy, infusion set problems
- Device sync - Some devices don't connect to HealthKit
Use Cases
- Diabetes management - Daily insulin tracking
- Pattern recognition - Identifying insulin needs
- Healthcare visits - Share complete insulin history
- Pump settings - Optimizing basal rates, ratios
- Closed-loop systems - Automated insulin delivery