What Is an Insulin Sliding Scale Chart?
An insulin sliding scale chart indicates the dosage of insulin to be administered based upon an individual’s blood sugar level before a meal. It is used in SSI, Sliding Scale Insulin therapy, which is commonly implemented in hospitals due to its convenience and ease of use. In sliding scale therapy, blood sugar is measured with a glucometer about four times a day.
There are some controversial aspects of sliding scale therapy. “Even though most people who were hospitalized with diabetes were given SSI,” reports American Family Physician in an article cited by Healthline, “no study clearly showed that it was effective at controlling blood sugar.” This may be in part because there is no personalization to the sliding scale chart, and because dosage is based on current needs rather than the amount needed for a particular meal.
