Pump Starting Doses
Estimated settings for starting an insulin pump
Starting estimates only. These are conservative first settings your diabetes team refines with your real glucose data. Do not change your insulin without your clinician.
Add up your basal (long-acting) + all your mealtime doses on a typical day.
Pumps absorb insulin more efficiently, so the starting dose is trimmed. 20% is a common, cautious default.
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Enter your current daily insulin to see estimated pump settings
This calculator produces approximate starting estimates using standard published pump-initiation formulas (the 50% basal split, the 500 rule for carb ratio, and the 100/1800 rule for correction factor), with the weight-based estimate and glucose target adjusted for age. Individual insulin needs vary widely with activity, illness, hormones, and many other factors. These figures are for general information only and are not medical advice. Never start or adjust insulin pump settings without direct supervision from your doctor, diabetes specialist nurse, or care team.