Korean J Med.  2000 Dec;59(6):602-611.

Blood glucose/insulin index and carbohydrate-to-insulin ratio in Korean type 2 diabetic patients treated by continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion

• Kim SD
• Lee KD
• Kim SJ
• Choi EK
• Choi SB
• Park SM

Abstract

BACKGROUND
According to the results of Diabetes Control and Complication Trial, the best strategy to prevent and/or delay diabetic complications is to maintain the normal blood glucose levels. This led to emphasize the necessity of intensive management of diabetes. The purpose of the study was to determine blood glucose/insulin index and carbohydrate (CHO)-to-insulin ratios after normalization of blood glucose levels, and to select the factors to influence the blood glucose/insulin index and CHO-to-insulin ratios in Korean type 2 diabetic patients with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) treatment using insulin pump and CHO counting as a meal management.
METHODS
Fifty-five type 2 diabetic patients who started CSII therapy checked their blood glucose levels before and after three meals, and recorded the amounts of insulin injected in fasting and each meal and the amounts of carbohydrates consumed in each meal. Actual blood glucose/insulin index and CHO-to-insulin ratio were determined using the records, and also they were calculated using Functional Insulin Treatment Training Methods (FITTM) proposed by Howorka. Calculated values were compared to actual values. The meaningful factors to influence the actual values were selected by backward stepwise regression analysis.
RESULTS
The average age of the subjects was 49.9+/-12.5 years, and the duration of diabetes was 8.7+/-4.5 years. Their body mass index was 22.5+/-3.6 kg/m2. Daily insulin requirements to normalize the blood glucose levels reached to maximum levels at l0 day CSII treatment, and they were reduced and stabilized after 20 days of the treatment. The quotient K, representing insulin sensitivity, was also decreased after CSII treatment. The basal insulin index was 0.21 IU/kg at 10 days and 0.16 IU/kg at 20 days in our study, and these values were lower than the value from FITTM, 0.35 IU/kg The blood/glucose index was -2.5 mmol/L at 10 day CSII treatment, and it was decreased to -4.4 mmol/L at 20 day treatment to the stable levels. CHO-to-insulin ratio provided by FITTM was 2.59 IU/CHO exchange unit and the ratio was 3.12 IU/CHO exchange unit at 10 days, which was decreased to 1.84 IU/CHO exchange unit at 20 days in our study. CHO-to-insulin ratios at breakfast from carbohydrate counting were higher than those of lunch and dinner, and the ratios were 1.5 to 2.5 IU/CHO exchange unit. According to the stepwise regression analysis, the blood glucose/insulin index was affected by gender, age, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose levels and fasting c-peptide levels, and CHO-to-insulin ratios were influenced by gender, age, BMI, post-prandial blood glucose levels and post-prandial c-peptide levels.
CONCLUSIONS
CSII treatment can make blood glucose levels maintain in normal ranges in Korean type 2 diabetic patients, and can improve insulin sensitivity. Basal insulin requirements were lower and prandial insulin requirements were higher than those calculated from FITTM. This difference between Korean and the Western can be related to difference of insulin secretion from pancreas and nutrient intake.

MeSH Terms

Blood Glucose
Body Mass Index
Breakfast
C-Peptide
Carbohydrates
Diabetes Complications
Fasting
Humans
Insulin Resistance
Insulin*
Lunch
Meals
Pancreas
Reference Values
Blood Glucose
C-Peptide
Carbohydrates
Insulin