Insulin is an essential medication for many type 1 and type 2 diabetics. This hormone helps your body to absorb glucose for energy, but this medication is not one-size-fits-all. Depending on the severity of your disease, your height, weight, diet, and insulin regimen may be as unique as the next persons.
However, there are a few standard insulin regimens that doctors follow when helping patients establish their personalized routines. Let’s take a look at them, shall we?
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Basal-Bolus Regimen
This is an intensive regimen usually prescribed for more severe cases of diabetes or type 1 diabetics. Your doctor will prescribe a mix of insulin medications to be taken at different times throughout the day. They may include:
- one or two shots of long-acting insulin as a background dose
- three bolus shots of rapid-acting insulin taken at mealtimes
- one bolus dose of rapid-acting insulin to correct occasional blood sugar spikes
Sliding Scale Regimen
This regimen is based on how high your blood sugar gets. When it’s higher, you’ll take more insulin, and when it’s lower, you’ll take less insulin. The sliding scale therapy may be just one or two long-acting shots a day, or it may be combined with a basal-bolus regimen.
Once Daily Shots
Type 2 diabetics may only need a single long-acting shot of insulin each day to help maintain stable blood sugar levels. The shot is usually taken before bed and you’ll need to keep glucose tablets nearby in case of hypoglycemia.
Twice Daily Shots
Sometimes, doctors will prescribe diabetics a biphasic insulin, which is a pre-mixed dose of short-acting and long-acting insulins. This is injected twice a day, once before breakfast and once before dinner. However, this regimen assumes you eat three meals at about the same time daily. If you vary, you could experience hypoglycemic episodes.
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[expand title=”References“]
Insulin Routines. URL Link. Accessed August 25th, 2017.
Insulin Regimens. URL Link. Accessed August 25th, 2017.
Designing An Insulin Regimen. URL Link. Accessed August 25th, 2017.
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