How to Figure a Basal Rate for a Insulin Pump

A basal rate is the rate at which insulin will be dispensed from an insulin pump to your body throughout the day. It is the amount of insulin needed by your body to keep your blood sugar within a normal range when you are not eating. Basal rates are programmed into insulin pumps for certain time intervals and vary depending on your body's need for insulin. Consult your physician and study your insulin-pump manufacturer's instructions for the steps to program basal rates into your specific insulin pump model.

Things You'll Need

• Insulin pump
• Daily blood glucose log
• Daily insulin dosing log

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Instructions

• 1

  Calculate the average daily units of insulin you take over a period of three to seven days. Make sure the days chosen are recent and do not contain anomolies—that is, sickness, a lack of regular exercise or a poor diet. Start with 10 to 20 percent less than the average daily units if you are also changing insulin types to help avoid low blood-sugar reactions.

• 2

  Divide the average total insulin used into two components: 50 percent for basal rate and 50 percent for boluses. The basal rate will automatically be dispensed by the insulin pump throughout a 24-hour period. Boluses are doses of insulin given at meals or snacks and act similar to taking injections.

• 3

  Divide the basal-rate portion of insulin by 24. This represents the hourly basal rate you should program into your insulin pump.