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How to Determine a Basal Rate on an Insulin Pump

An insulin pump provides a diabetic with more refined control and greater freedoms but determining your initial basal rates from your normal insulin dosages can seem challenging. Insulin pumps only use one type of fast-acting insulin (usually Novolog or Humalog), while those on insulin injections use one or more types of long-acting insulin (like Lantus or NPH) to avoid having to inject every two hours around the clock. However, there’s a mathematical formula that makes initial basal calculation easier than it may seem.

Things You'll Need

  • Healthcare professional
  • Insulin pump
  • Calculator
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Instructions

  1. Initial Calculations

    • 1

      Add up the total number of units of insulin you inject each day (24-hour period). Include both long- and fast-acting insulins.

    • 2

      Multiply this total by 0.4.

    • 3

      Divide this number by 24. This is your initial hourly basal rate. Pay attention to the numbers after the decimal point; since most insulin pumps today allow you to adjust basal rates to one-hundredth of one unit (i.e. 1.25 units), you can program very exact numbers.

    Refining Basal Rates

    • 4

      Until you determine your basal rates, you will want to often test your blood sugar. Keep a log of your readings, including the time you tested. You also should keep a record of when you eat and how many grams of carbohydrates you consume at each meal. The minimum number of tests is five per day but for at least the first few days, hourly testing will help you figure out your basal rates most effectively.

    • 5

      If you have an unexplained low blood sugar reading (below 70) for two or more consecutive days, your basal rate for the two hours preceding the low should be decreased by 0.1 units. If the low blood sugar persists, continue lowering the basal rates by 0.1 units every two days until the numbers stabilize.

    • 6

      For high blood sugars (above 120 before a meal) at the same time for two or more consecutive days, your basal rate for the two hours preceding the high should be increased by 0.1 units. If the high blood sugar persists, continue increasing the basal rates by 0.1 units during the one to two hours beforehand every two days until your numbers stabilize.

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