9225Introduction to CHOCounting.pdf - NDR-UK

Intensive Insulin Therapy and Your Treatment Plan
Your treatment plan uses intensive insulin thera p y. This allows you to take your insulin in a
way that mimics the normal secretion of insulin from the pancreas. You do this by having one
or two injections of basal (background or long-acting) insulin a day and injections of bolus
( rapid-acting) insulin with foods that contain carbohydra t e.
Using this treatment plan with carbohydrate counting will help you to keep your blood glucose
as close to normal as possible. You will adjust your insulin to b a l a n c e with the carbohydrate in
your meals and snacks, helping you to manage everyday life including activity, s p o r t s, s c h o o l ,
stress and illness.
B a s a l
B a s a l means b a c k g r o u n d or l o n g - a c t i n g i n s u l i n . Your body always needs basal insulin to
keep your blood glucose levels steady and to give you energy.
Your basal insulin is
Basal and Bolus Insulin Effect
Insulin Effect
Basal
Bolus
Basal
Bolus
Bolus
Bolus
Time
B o l u s
B o l u s insulin is r a p i d - acting insulin that your body needs when you eat carbohydra t e.
You will take your bolus with meals, and sometimes with snacks. This type of insulin helps
your body deal with the glucose it gets from the carbohydrate in your food.
Your bolus insulin is
Do I need to count carbohydrate to follow my treatment plan?
C a r b o h y d rate counting will help you to get all the benefits from your treatment plan. You will
work out how much carbohydrate is in your meals and snacks then adjust your bolus to keep
your blood glucose within your target ra n g e.
It is still important to have a healthy diet, but carbohydrate counting gives you more choice of
w h a t , when and how much you can eat. This will help you to worry less about eating to avoid
h y p o s, or snacking when you are not hungry.
C a r b o h y d rate counting is much more than being able to estimate the carbohydrate content of
f o o d s. It is also about learning how to adjust your bolus insulin to the food you eat and the
activities you enjoy.
Your diabetes team will help and support you to count carbohydrate and adjust your insulin.
Your confidence will grow with practice and soon you will realise that you control your
d i a b e t e s !
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