Building Competency in Diabetes Education THE ESSENTIALS

BASAL-BOLUS INSULIN THERAPY | 12-3

OBJECTIVES

Completion of this chapter should enable the learner to do the following:

Basal-bolus injection therapy • Define conventional and basal-bolus insulin therapy.

• List the known benefits and risks of basal-bolus insulin therapy. • Discuss factors to consider when setting individual treatment goals. • Discuss insulin regimen choices for basal-bolus injections. • Calculate starting doses of basal and bolus insulins. • Create individualized correction factors or insulin dose scales based on insulin sensitivity for basal-bolus insulin therapies. • Distinguish between pattern adjustment and supplemental/anticipatory adjustments. • Identify patterns in blood glucose values and discuss insulin adjustments using case studies. • Create individualized guidelines for dose adjustments during travel. Pump therapy • Select patients for whom pump therapy would be appropriate. • Calculate starting doses of basal and bolus insulins. • Help patients make insulin adjustments. • Help patients prevent the complications of pump therapy, including sick-day guidelines.

Nutrition • Help patients with nutritional goal-setting. • Describe the steps to carbohydrate counting. • Help patients with weight management .