Importance of Basal Insulin: LANTUS® Long-Acting Insulin
Insulin-deficient hospitalized diabetes patients need a constant supply of basal
insulin—even if NPO18
Normoglycemic insulin secretion has basal and prandial components15
Physiologic basal insulin:
- Is relatively continuous over 24 hours15,19
- Suppresses blood glucose production between meals and overnight15
- By controlling hepatic glucose output, even during fasting
- Is approximately 50% of daily insulin output15
- Mealtime spikes in insulin may account for the remaining output
ACE/ADA recommendations for hyperglycemic inpatients with diabetes who are eating15,20
- Basal-bolus therapy to cover both fasting and prandial glucose
- Prandial insulin must balance food; schedule dosing only with meals and not at fixed
times
- To reduce the risk of hyperglycemia, use rapid-acting analogs with or even after
meals
To closely mimic physiologic blood glucose control, a constant supply of basal insulin
is essential.15
Next: LANTUS®: A Basal
Insulin