How to Convert NPH Insulin to an Insulin Pump

Insulin pumps deliver two types of insulin dosages: a basal rate, that delivers a low yet constant stream of insulin 24 hours a day automatically, and a bolus rate, which is programmed to be delivered by the user before eating carbohydrates or to correct a high blood sugar reading. Unlike traditional insulin injections that combine a number of insulin types (i.e. NPH as a long-acting insulin and Humalog as a short-acting insulin), insulin pumps deliver only one kind of short-acting insulin. Converting from your typical NPH dosages to an insulin pump may seem daunting, but doctors have developed a mathematical formula to ease the transition.

Things You'll Need

• Insulin pump
• Healthcare professional
• Calculator

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Instructions

• 1

  Add up the total number of units of insulin you currently take during each 24-hour period. Include NPH and any other long- or short-acting insulin you take.

• 2

  Multiply this number by .4.

• 3

  Divide the result by 24. This is your initial hourly basal rate for the insulin pump. Don't round your result up or down; all insulin pumps can be programmed to at least one decimal place (i.e. 1.3) and many can be programmed to two decimal places (i.e. 1.35).