Basal insulin: The secret of flexible diabetic lifestyle!

Diabetes occurs when there's a lack of insulin in your body. Our blood sugar levels are fluctuating constantly but it's the insulin's job to keep them at required levels. But if a person is diagnosed with diabetes, their body fails to produce enough insulin to control the blood sugar levels. Doctors suggest insulin doses to keep the blood sugar levels in check for diabetic individuals. But people often raise a question on how effective basal insulin is in terms of controlling the blood sugar levels. But the bottom line is any amount of insulin doses won't help unless the individual makes necessary dietary and lifestyle changes. The most prominent time your blood sugar fluctuates is, in-between your meals. Basal insulin helps in keeping your blood glucose levels stable in-between your meals. Basal insulin dosing maintains the blood sugar levels constantly regardless of your meal intervals. A slight change can worsen the health condition even more for a person already suffering from diabetes. There are a few different types of basal insulin that help in managing diabetes, these include:

• Intermediate-acting insulin, NPHIt's usually prescribed only once or twice a day, before your lunch or dinner. If your diabetes is serious, you might be asked to increase the number of dosages throughout the day. Intermediate-acting insulin's best effect can be seen after 4 to 8 hours of injection.
• Long-acting insulinLong-acting insulin stays in an individual's body up to a day. It doesn't have the best effect time but gets to work within 90 minutes to 4 hours after injection.
• Ultra-long acting insulinThis basal insulin starts acting within 30 to 90 minutes can be detected in an individual's bloodstream for up to 48 hours. It also doesn't have a peak time but works at a steady rate over time. It helps in leading a more flexible lifestyle regardless of your meal timings and meal intervals.

Basal insulin benefitsBasal insulin is most effective when it comes to maintaining blood sugar levels, especially in-between meals. This not only controls the sugar levels but also allows the person to lead a flexible lifestyle. For instance, it's necessary for people with diabetes to have meals in equal/adequate intervals. If not, their sugar levels might drop giving an invitation to other health problems. However, if you take a dose of long-acting insulin, you can make your meal timings more flexible as it will keep your blood sugar levels steady throughout its effect. Another benefit of long-acting insulin is that it works for a longer period of time. This helps in keeping the blood sugar steady during longer intervals, such as night-time. If you take a dose of long-acting insulin before bed, it will ensure your blood sugar levels are stable until the next meal in the morning.

Diabetes is a very serious health condition and without proper diabetes care it can lead to other health complications. Basal insulin helps effectively maintain your sugar levels while you lead a flexible lifestyle. Consult a doctor before undertaking any changes in the insulin dosage. Sit and plan with your doctor a favorable plan and learn all about insulin and which insulin type suits you best.

I have a strong interest in writing articles and blogs related to fitness, health diseases. In my free time, I love to play chess and listening to music.