What is the role of correctional insulin in basal-bolus therapy?

• A. It accounts for additional insulin needs not covered by basal and meals
• B. It is used only at night
• C. It is used to replace basal insulin
• D. It is the primary component for meal coverage

Answer: (A)

In basal-bolus therapy, you use rapid-acting insulin with meals to cover carbohydrate intake and an additional correction dose to bring down blood glucose when it’s higher than the target. This correctional insulin specifically addresses extra insulin needs that aren’t covered by the basal insulin (which provides background coverage) or by the meal bolus itself. It’s not reserved for night-time only, and it doesn’t replace basal insulin or serve as the primary meal coverage. Instead, it corrects hyperglycemia earlier or later in the day by applying a small, calculated dose based on how sensitive the patient is to insulin. This helps prevent persistent high glucose levels without relying on meals alone.