Insulin therapy aims to keep blood sugar levels as close to healthy levels as possible, to prevent symptoms and the risk of diabetes complications. The sliding scale is one way of working out how much insulin to take before each meal.

When do you give insulin sliding scale?

This is done about four times a day (every 5 to 6 hours, or before meals and at bedtime). The amount of insulin you get at mealtime is based on your blood sugar measurement.

Why should insulin sliding scales be avoided?

Sliding-scale insulin often fails to individualize insulin requirements and bases insulin doses on glucose levels prior to meals without regard to a patient's basal metabolic needs, the types and amounts of food to be consumed, a patient's weight, or other factors influencing insulin demands such as previous insulin ...