Sliding scale, what is it?
Your health care provider may give you a sliding scale. A sliding scale is a prefixed base amount of insulin with an extra boost of insulin as needed. The higher your blood sugar after eating, the more extra units of insulin you will take (called a bolus). Usually you will have the same long acting insulin dose every day, and a faster acting one to correct your high blood sugar levels that changes. When using a sliding scale, you
will:
· eat the same amount or grams of carbohydrates (carbs)
· have the same insulin amount that never changes
· have a protocol or scale that will tell you exactly how much more insulin to inject depending on
your last blood sugar
· follow are regular diet as much as possible, changing the types of food you eats but keeping the
quantity (of carbs) the same
Some sliding scales have a corrective dose before bed time as well. Your health care provider will explain to you about your personal scale in
great detail. For other information and resources on sliding scale therapy look under the Resources tab.
will:
· eat the same amount or grams of carbohydrates (carbs)
· have the same insulin amount that never changes
· have a protocol or scale that will tell you exactly how much more insulin to inject depending on
your last blood sugar
· follow are regular diet as much as possible, changing the types of food you eats but keeping the
quantity (of carbs) the same
Some sliding scales have a corrective dose before bed time as well. Your health care provider will explain to you about your personal scale in
great detail. For other information and resources on sliding scale therapy look under the Resources tab.