InsulinInsulin hormone, Insulin injectionInsulin is the hormone made by the pancreas that moves glucose out of the blood and into cells. As a medicine it replaces or supplements what the body cannot produce, and it is given by injection because stomach acid would destroy it.
Basal insulin
Also known as Background insulin, Long-acting insulin
Long-acting insulin that provides a steady background level through the day and night, usually injected once daily.
The body needs a small amount of at all times, not only at meals — the liver releases glucose continuously and something must balance it. Basal insulin replaces that background supply.
It is judged mainly by the fasting morning reading: if that is consistently high or low, the basal dose is usually what needs changing.
Related terms
- Bolus insulinMealtime insulin, Rapid-acting insulinFast-acting insulin taken with meals to cover the sugar from the food you are about to eat.
- Fasting blood sugarFBS, Fasting plasma glucoseFasting blood sugar is the glucose level in blood after at least eight hours without food or sweetened drink. It is the simplest and cheapest test for diabetes, and one of the three that can diagnose it.
- HypoglycaemiaLow blood sugar, HypoBlood sugar that has fallen too low, usually below 70 mg/dL. It comes on within minutes and needs sugar immediately.