Use of Insulin in Outpatient Diabetes Management

Dosing insulin is like a dance. The insulin dose is initially calculated, and then the blood glucose levels must be evaluated, in order to increase or decrease the insulin dose responsible for that blood glucose value. The goal is not to go chasing after the blood glucose has risen but to prevent its rise. For this, one must carefully take into account the quality and quantity of a given meal (and its carbohydrate content), the activity level, the patient’s health status, and how other medications could affect the blood glucose levels.