What is basal and bolus insulin therapy for diabetes?
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Dr. Jack Merendino of The Best Life answered:Normally insulin is made in your pancreas, and the best way to think about how to use insulin is to ask yourself what your pancreas would do if everything were working properly. When most people without diabetes fast, the glucose level remains fairly stable and the body makes a rather steady amount of insulin. Doctors refer to this as the basal insulin production, meaning the insulin that is around as a base or background all the time.
When you eat a meal, your blood sugar rises; how quickly and how high depends on what you've eaten. In this situation, the body makes extra insulin to match the rising sugar. Doctors call this bolus insulin; the word "bolus" means an amount of food or medicine given all at once.
Injected insulin can be used to meet your basal or background needs, your bolus or meal-related needs, or both. In people who make little or no insulin, such as many people with late-stage type 2 diabetes or anyone with type 1 diabetes, both insulin needs must be met, and doctors refer to this as basal-bolus insulin treatment.
Normally insulin is made in your pancreas, and the best way to think about how to use insulin is to ask yourself what your pancreas would do if everything were working properly. When most people without diabetes fast, the glucose level remains... More
