us insulin. As late as the early 1980s, IDDM management consisted of a single, daily injection of insulin and urine glucose testing. Today, multiple dose insulin therapy, insulin pumps, and frequent blood glucose monitoring techniques are used (Clark & Plotnick, 1990, p. 3).
Intensive insulin therapy (IIT) may involve three or more insulin injections each day (Spollet, 1993, p. 27). Depending on the circumstances, these injections may include either short acting, intermediate acting, or long acting insulin. For example, just before a meal, an injection of short acting insulin is generally most appropriate. The dose can be calculated by estimating the carbohydrate content of the food (Spollet, 1993, p. 28).
In contrast, either a long acting or an intermediate acting insulin can be administered to achieve basal insulin levels. For example, one long acting insulin, Ultralente, works best when given in a divided dose. Thus, in addition to premeal injections, diabetics may also administer insulin in the morning and before g
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