Proper Basal Rate settings will keep fasting blood sugar variations within 20 to 30 points during normal day to day activities. Periodic profiling of your Basal Rates allows you to determine if adjustments or additional Basal Rates are needed. This is particularly important for individuals whose routine day-to-day activity changes, for those experiencing hormonal changes (menopause, adolescence, etc...), normal growth spurts experienced by children, pregnancy, and many other variations in the normal course of living our lives.
Basal Rate testing must be done over a period of several days. Experts in the field advise dividing basal testing into three periods, first correcting basal settings for night time then checking morning/daytime basal rates, followed by afternoon/evening testing. Each phase of testing may take several days (including rest days) to accurately profile and adjust the basal rate for that test period.
Remember to always consult your health care team when making changes to your basal rates. Stop the testing if at any time your blood sugar gets too low or too high. The guidelines I use are 65 to 165 points. Below 65 is to low for comfort or safety and above 165, kidneys begin to spill glucose and invalidate the resulting blood sugar changes. You may wish to use other limits, check with your health care advisors.
The information and procedures contained in this document are provided in the hope that you may find them useful. No guarantee or warranty of accuracy is given, or suitability for use implied by making this information available. Use of the information and procedures is AT YOUR OWN RISK.
You should consult with your physician and health care team when making changes to your insulin regimen.