Which statement about the components of basal-bolus insulin therapy is NOT a component?

Which statement about the components of basal-bolus insulin therapy is NOT a component?

• A. Basal insulin
• B. Nutritional component prior to meals
• C. Correctional insulin
• D. Sliding-scale insulin

Answer: (D)

The approach being tested assumes a planned, proactive insulin strategy that mirrors normal physiology: a basal insulin provides background coverage between meals and overnight, a bolus insulin is given around meals to match carbohydrate intake, and a correction dose adjusts glucose if it’s above target. Sliding-scale insulin, on the other hand, is reactive—it administers insulin only after hyperglycemia is detected and doesn’t provide the pre-meal coverage or steady baseline that a basal-bolus plan relies on. That reactive nature makes it not a component of basal-bolus therapy. For example, using a long-acting basal agent plus a rapid-acting bolus before meals, with a defined correction factor as needed, fits basal-bolus well; relying solely on insulin given after meals to lower glucose without planned mealtime coverage does not.

The approach being tested assumes a planned, proactive insulin strategy that mirrors normal physiology: a basal insulin provides background coverage between meals and overnight, a bolus insulin is given around meals to match carbohydrate intake, and a correction dose adjusts glucose if it’s above target. Sliding-scale insulin, on the other hand, is reactive—it administers insulin only after hyperglycemia is detected and doesn’t provide the pre-meal coverage or steady baseline that a basal-bolus plan relies on. That reactive nature makes it not a component of basal-bolus therapy. For example, using a long-acting basal agent plus a rapid-acting bolus before meals, with a defined correction factor as needed, fits basal-bolus well; relying solely on insulin given after meals to lower glucose without planned mealtime coverage does not.