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What Is a Sliding Scale for Insulin Injections?

Blood sugar levels vary throughout the day depending on meals, exercise and other factors. A sliding scale insulin routine provides a diabetic patient with small, frequent doses of insulin several times a day to simulate the body's natural process of blood sugar control.

  1. What is a Sliding Scale?

    • A sliding scale is a dosing regimen that prescribes how much insulin to take for different levels of blood sugar. A diabetic with a slightly elevated blood sugar will take a small amount of insulin, but a high blood sugar will require a larger dose.

    How Does Sliding Scale Dosing Work?

    • A doctor prescribes the sliding scale regimen based on the patient's weight, activity level and other medications. A different dose of fast-acting insulin is used for each range of blood sugar results.

    When Is Sliding Scale Insulin Taken?

    • Blood sugar levels can vary throughout the day in response to food and activity levels. Diabetics test their blood sugars before each meal and at bedtime and use sliding scale insulin to treat these changes.

    Why Is Sliding Scale Used?

    • Sliding scale dosing treats small changes in blood sugar quickly and keeps the blood sugar at a more constant level throughout the day.

    Who can Benefit from Sliding Scale?

    • Type I and type II diabetics who can--or have someone who can--check their blood sugars several times a day can use a sliding scale. Type I diabetics use sliding scale insulin in addition to daily doses of longer-acting insulin, while type II diabetics may be able to use sliding scale insulin alone or in addition to oral medication.

    Considerations

    • Sliding scale insulin requires several fingersticks per day, which some people find painful. It also requires the use of a blood sugar meter (glucometer) and more supplies than standard dosing.

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