What Does Titrate-up By One Unit Every 2 Days Means?

Posted on Fri, 25 Apr 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 25 Apr 2014 Answered on

Thu, 15 May 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I am taking Humulin N Pen 100 Unit /ML Subcutaneious Suspension: Inject 5 unit twelve hours. Titrate up by one unit every 2 days? I am on my third day - do I Inject 6 units of NPH insulin towards fasting blood sugar in morning of 90-130? What does Titrate-up by one unit every 2 days means?

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (41 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You are right

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Good day
Apart from Humulin-N, what all other diabetic medications are you taking?
Humulin-N ( NPH) is an intermediate acting insulin and the action peaks by 4 hours and total action lasts for 12-14 hours. That is why you have to inject it twice daily.
As you correctly said, titrate up by 1 unit means that you have to increase the dose by one unit every two days till your fasting blood glucose is in target range. If you are otherwise healthy and active, im for a fasting blood glucose of between 90-110. If you have long standing diabetes or heart disease etc, aim for fasting between 90-130.

Regards
Binu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad