Basal insulin therapy.

The initiation of insulin therapy is a significant event for patients with diabetes and the physicians who care for them. Reluctance to begin insulin is multifactorial, with a major stumbling block being the perceived complexity of insulin. However, this complexity can be easily overcome by separation of insulin administration into its two components: basal and bolus therapy. An understanding of the role of basal insulin in the regulation of glucose and the development of strategies to implement basal insulin therapy can provide a transition that is rational and highly effective in most patients. The strategy also offers a unique approach to diabetes education, which permits a focused and patient-specific correction to glucose abnormalities.