How to Calculate Basal Insulin Rate

The basal insulin rate is the amount of insulin the pancreas produces daily to manage daily fluctuations in blood glucose level. People with diabetes produce less than average or no insulin. A low dose of insulin injected by an insulin pump will mimic the average production of insulin in a non-diabetic person over a 20- to 24-hour period. In order to get a 24-hour basal profile, diabetics must go through stages of fasting to calculate the minimal basal rate and subtract the bolus dose of insulin -- the amount of fast-acting insulin required to eat a meal.

Things You'll Need

• Glucose meter
• Disposable blood test strip

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Instructions

• 1

  Begin fasting when you wake up.

• 2

  Do not eat or take bolus insulin during the fasting period -- around four hours is recommended. You can continue to drink water as normal, but no other beverages.

• 3

  Check your blood sugar level with a glucose meter. Prick the skin to draw a small amount of blood with the lancet on the glucose meter, then place the blood on a disposable test strip and enter it into the glucose meter and wait for a reading.

• 4

  Repeat this process over a few days at different times of day to get a general 24-hour profile of basal insulin rate.

• 5

  Observe the fluctuations in basal insulin rate and calculate the amount of insulin required to maintain the blood sugar level in your body at a healthy range, at around 72 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL).

• 6

  Subtract the insulin required for food intake (also known as the bolus dose -- one unit of fast-acting insulin for every 15 grams of carbohydrates) from the total amount of insulin required based on your 24-hour basal profile.