BE factor

The BE factor is a conversion factor that is used by patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus when they are undergoing insulin therapy according to the basic bolus concept . It is used to calculate the amount of insulin ( bolus ) that is injected before each meal ( preprandial ) depending on the planned amount of carbohydrates .

When using BE factors, the carbohydrate content of the planned meal is first determined from tables and, if necessary, by weighing. The amount of carbohydrates in bread units (BU, 1 BU = 12 g carbohydrate) is multiplied by the BE factor and thus results in the individually required insulin dose in international units (IU) for this meal.

BE factor determination

The BE factor is determined by trying out different amounts of insulin for each individual patient and for each meal separately and usually varies between 0.5 and 4, so that between 0.5 and 4 IU of insulin are injected per BE. BE factors of 2 IU per BE in the morning, 1 IU per BE around noon and 1.5 IU per BE in the evening are typical.

Nowadays, however, a KE factor is used more and more because it makes it easier to calculate the IE.

KE factor

The KE factor ( carbohydrate unit factor ) is identical in its use to the BE factor. The carbohydrate units are determined as follows: 1KE = 10 g KH (carbohydrates)

KE factor determination

The KE factor, like the BE factor, is determined individually for each patient by trial and error and usually varies at different times of the day.

Calculation example

On a muesli package, the nutritional table shows 25.4 g of carbohydrates for 100 g of muesli. are the carbohydrate units (KE) for 100 g muesli. Assuming you eat 250 g of muesli, that would be for the whole meal. In order to determine the required insulin units (IU) from this, the KE per meal is multiplied by the personal KE factor. Suppose it is morning and morning KE-factor is 0.5 then the following calculation: . So a diabetic with this KE factor would have to inject 3 insulin units for 250 g of muesli in the morning. ${\ displaystyle 25 {,} 4 \, {\ text {g}} / 10 = 2 {,} 54 \, {\ text {KE}}}$ ${\ displaystyle 250 \, {\ text {g}} \ cdot 2 {,} 54 \, {\ text {KE}} / 100 \, {\ text {g}} = 6 {,} 35 \, {\ text {KE}}}$ ${\ displaystyle 6 {,} 35 \, {\ text {KE}} \ cdot 0 {,} 5 \, {\ text {IE}} / {\ text {KE}} = 3 {,} 175 \, { \ text {IE}}}$

KE or BE factor?

Both names exist side by side, where KE and KH are defined as 10 g of carbohydrates, while BE is defined as 12 g of carbohydrates. So that the bread units (BU) can be determined more easily, many diabetics also use the divider 10 here. Nowadays the KE factor is preferred because the required insulin units can be easily calculated here even with large amounts of carbohydrate.