Insulin dosing has to be one of the most (seemingly) unnecessarily complicated dosings in medicine. Not only are there 4 ways to dose it (BID, QID with rapid, QID with fast, QID with extended-release) there are three different companies, all naming their insulins slightly differently. But how can you remember whether to give Humalog, Humulin N, Humulin R, NovoRapid, Novolin Toronto, NPH, Lantus, or some combination of the above?

This is a master illustration to help organize insulin dosing and amounts.

Total Daily Dose

0.3 – 0.6 units/kg
Start low, titrate up

BID (conventional therapy)

2/3 : 1/3 rule
2/3 breakfast : 1/3 supper
2/3 long : 1/3 fast

QID (with either Rapid or Fast-acting and either long or extended)

Breakfast: 20-25% long, 15-20% rapid
Lunch: 15-20% rapid
Supper: 15-20% rapid
Bedtime: 25-30% long