Insulin Pump Settings Calculator
Generate starting insulin pump settings from your total daily dose — hourly basal rate, insulin-to-carb ratio, correction factor, and target — as a launch point for AID and pump setup discussions.
Your typical total insulin (basal + bolus) per day.
Pump users often start near 40–50%.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter your total daily dose (TDD) — typical basal plus bolus units per day.
- Choose the basal percentage of TDD (40–50% is a common start).
- Set your target glucose.
- Read the estimated settings: hourly basal rate, insulin-to-carb ratio (500 Rule) and correction factor (1800 Rule).
These are educational starting points using flat rates. Real pumps use time-segmented basal and personalised ratios, programmed and refined by your diabetes team.
How Pump Starting Settings Are Estimated
When moving to a pump or AID system, clinicians often start from your total daily dose and the standard rules, then refine with data. This tool applies those rules: a basal fraction of TDD spread over 24 hours, the 500 Rule for carb ratio, and the 1800 Rule for correction factor.
Example: TDD 40, basal 50% → basal ≈ 0.83 u/hr, ICR 1:12.5 g, ISF ≈ 45 mg/dL per unit.
Estimated Settings by TDD (50% basal)
| TDD | Basal (u/hr) | ICR (1 u : g) | ISF (mg/dL/u) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 0.63 | 16.7 | 60 |
| 40 | 0.83 | 12.5 | 45 |
| 50 | 1.04 | 10.0 | 36 |
| 60 | 1.25 | 8.3 | 30 |
Some clinicians reduce TDD by 10–25% when switching from injections to a pump. Your team decides.
Insulin Pumps & AID Systems Explained
Tubed vs patch (tubeless) pumps
Tubed pumps — such as the Tandem t:slim X2 and Medtronic MiniMed 780G — clip to your clothing and deliver insulin through tubing to an infusion set. Tubeless patch pumps — the Omnipod 5 / DASH — stick directly to the skin and are controlled by a phone or handset. Both deliver rapid-acting insulin as a programmed basal plus on-demand boluses.
Automated insulin delivery (hybrid closed loop)
Most modern pumps pair with a CGM to run automated insulin delivery (AID) — Tandem Control-IQ, Medtronic SmartGuard, Omnipod 5 SmartAdjust. The system adjusts basal (and gives auto-corrections) from your glucose trend, but you still announce carbs for meal boluses, so an accurate carb ratio and TDD still matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are starting insulin pump settings calculated?
From your total daily dose: basal is typically 40–50% of TDD divided over 24 hours, the carb ratio uses the 500 Rule (500 ÷ TDD), and the correction factor uses the 1800 Rule (1800 ÷ TDD). Your team then fine-tunes.
Is this the same as a pump basal rate calculator?
It's broader. A basal rate calculator focuses on the hourly basal; this tool also estimates your carb ratio and correction factor so you see all the core pump settings together.
Do AID (closed-loop) systems use these settings?
Yes — automated insulin delivery systems still rely on a carb ratio and often a correction factor and TDD, even though they adjust basal automatically. Accurate starting settings help the algorithm learn faster.
Should I change my pump settings myself?
No. Pump and AID settings should be programmed and adjusted with your diabetes team using your real glucose data. Use this tool to understand the starting framework, not to self-program.
What is duration of insulin action (active insulin time)?
It's a pump setting that tells the device how long a bolus keeps working — commonly 3–5 hours for rapid-acting insulin. It drives the insulin-on-board calculation, so the pump can subtract still-active insulin and avoid stacking corrections that cause lows. Your team sets the value for your insulin.
What insulin pumps and closed-loop systems are available?
Common options include the tubed Tandem t:slim X2 (Control-IQ) and Medtronic MiniMed 780G (SmartGuard), and the tubeless Omnipod 5 (SmartAdjust). All three are hybrid closed-loop systems that adjust basal automatically from CGM data. Availability and CGM compatibility vary by country and insurance — your diabetes team can advise.
Sources
- Walsh J, Roberts R. Pumping Insulin. Starting pump settings and the 500/1800 rules.
- American Diabetes Association. Standards of Care — insulin pump and AID therapy.
Last reviewed: June 2025