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Help With Basal Rates on an Insulin Pump

A basal rate is the rate at which an insulin pump deliver insulin doses to diabetic users. This continuous supply of insulin dosage occurs throughout the day, even when you are asleep. About half the insulin you get is delivered through the pump's basal rate, with additional insulin being administered in "boluses" before meals.

  1. What is a Basal Rate?

    • While some sort of basal medication must be administered to individuals who require daily insulin, the rate changes on the basis of several factors. For example, the size of bolus treatments before meals and your insulin sensitivity factor heavily into the basal rate recommended by your doctor.

      Blood sugar (glucose) and amino acid control are kept steady by the basal rate of an insulin pump. In short, a basal rate must maintain a stable blood sugar count throughout your day. As long as you are not eating, this count must be plus or minus 30 points. Patients are instructed in the use of insulin pumps to ensure that they are capable of using and maintaining the pump and the proper basal rate over time. Fasting for a period of time is necessary to determine what basal rate is correct for you, although this rate may be adjusted.

    Obtaining Glucose Levels

    • An important step in determining your correct basal rate is testing blood glucose levels during various periods throughout the day. Before meals is an obvious starting point for most people. "Post-prandial" levels should be taken two hours after a meal, at which point glucose levels are lower than during a meal but may remain higher than in non-diabetic people with normal blood glucose levels. Blood glucose levels should also be obtained just before bed, and at midnight and 3:00 am. Patients who experience "dawn phenomenon," higher blood glucose levels in the morning, will need to adjust rates accordingly.

    Adjusting Levels

    • Basal levels might need to be fine-tuned and adjusted for people who experience blood glucose abnormality after following a particular regimen. The fasting basal rate should be fixed first. Because blood glucose levels may be irregular in the morning and can result in a poor start to your day, setting the rate after not eating during sleep is essential. Next, overnight hours must be tested and adjusted so that blood glucose levels are within 30 points of your baseline range. Repeating a test will result in better, safer basal rates.

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