It can increase the risk of both high and low blood sugar and of complications if the person needs surgery. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) warn that using only sliding scale insulin for treatment is ineffective for most people. Doctors developed it several decades ago as a guide to insulin dosage, but few healthcare professionals now use it. The sliding scale is one way of working out how much insulin to take before each meal.
Insulin therapy aims to keep blood sugar levels as close to healthy levels as possible, to prevent symptoms and the risk of diabetes complications. A doctor will help a person with diabetes to create this chart based on factors such as how the person’s body responds to insulin and their daily activity. Sliding scale insulin therapy involves following a chart of insulin dosages.
