The Reasons for Using a Sliding Scale to Control Blood Sugar

The sliding scale used by doctors and insulin-dependent diabetics is an important tool in helping insulin users gain control of their blood sugar levels. Diet, exercise, stress and illness are key components in a diabetic's insulin requirements. If a person with diabetes uses a sliding scale in these circumstances, he will be less likely to suffer from severe high or low blood sugars.

Counting Carbohydrates

• Stay within a daily carbohydrate limit.

  Once eaten, carbohydrates are fuel for the body, but for a diabetic, many carbohydrates must be balanced with an appropriate dosage of insulin. Some people with gestational, Type I or Type II diabetes use a preset dosage of long acting insulin and use a sliding scale to balance how much short-term insulin to take at meals, depending on their carbohydrate intake. In such cases, a sliding scale will allow you to cover your meal with an appropriate fast-acting insulin dosage.

Chasing Blood Sugar Levels

• Contact a diabetes educator to fully understand this disease.

  It is often necessary for diabetics to reverse a high blood sugar with a dose of insulin. Your doctor and diabetes educator should instruct you on how much insulin to take when your blood sugar is too high. This is sometimes called "chasing blood sugar." Although this method of controlling blood glucose is not the best way for a diabetic to control her sugars on a continuing basis, it is sometimes necessary. The sliding scale will help bring the blood sugar to a more normal level.

Illness

• Many over-the-counter medications contain sugar.

  For diabetics, illness can cause havoc in your daily insulin and food routines. If you cannot eat because of flu or other illness, your normal dosage of fast-acting insulin may need to be adjusted. A sliding scale is an effective tool in managing your diabetes while you are sick, but even when you are not feeling well, it is important to keep track of your blood sugar levels and adjust them with insulin or diet accordingly. Do not ignore your basal or long-term insulin without first talking to your doctor.

Disadvantages of Sliding Scale

• Daily exercise is a helpful tool in controlling diabetes.

  Although for many diabetics a sliding scale is a way to gain overall control of blood sugar, the sliding scale has its disadvantages when used as a main blood sugar control method. For Type II diabetics, a sliding scale is most successful when a tight control of a daily predetermined carbohydrate meal plan is used. Sliding scales may cause swings in levels of blood sugar, which is hard on the body over time. To make the sliding scale method work for you, talk to your doctor about its advantages and disadvantages and do your best to stay within those control boundaries.

When Food is Used Instead of Insulin

• Symptoms of low blood sugar: dizzyness, shaking, tingling tongue and confusion.

  A sliding scale should also include an understanding of what to do in case of a hyperglycemic or low blood sugar insulin reaction. Low blood sugars happen when too much insulin is given, or not enough food is eaten in correlation to the amount of insulin taken. If your blood sugar drops below the normal healthy level, drink a predetermined amount of juice, or eat carbohydrates to raise the sugar level. Be careful not to overdo the carbohydrate intake. Your doctor will be able to help you determine the ratio of carbs to blood sugar, and when to eat or inject insulin.