Insulin Regimen Calculators
Tools for sliding scale dosing, basal-bolus regimens, IV insulin infusion, pump rates, and insulin on board — all using referenced clinical formulas for educational use.
🩸 Basal-Bolus & MDI Calculators
Build a multiple daily injection (MDI) regimen — long-acting basal plus rapid-acting mealtime bolus, with timing and insulin-on-board support.
Basal-Bolus Calculator
Full basal-bolus estimate from TDD: basal portion, ICR-based meal bolus, and optional correction.
Basal Insulin Calculator
Estimate the long-acting basal dose as a share of TDD for glargine, detemir or degludec.
Long-Acting Insulin Calculator
Basal dose with onset, peak and duration reference for each long-acting insulin type.
Insulin Bolus Calculator
Mealtime bolus combining the carb component (ICR) and a correction (ISF and target BG).
Insulin Timing (Pre-Bolus)
How long to pre-bolus before eating, based on pre-meal glucose, trend and meal type.
Insulin on Board (IOB)
Active insulin remaining from a previous bolus, using linear and exponential decay models.
📡 Insulin Pump & Basal-Rate Tools
Plan continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSII): starting basal rates, basal/bolus split, and structured basal-rate testing.
Insulin Pump Settings
Starting basal rate, carb ratio and correction factor from your TDD for pump or AID setup.
Pump Basal Rate Calculator
Convert the basal portion of TDD into an hourly rate, with a dawn-adjusted starting pattern.
Basal Percentage
See what share of your TDD is basal, or split TDD into basal and bolus by a target percentage.
Basal Rate Testing Helper
Plan a fasting basal test by segment, with the rules, fasting window and glucose check times.
🏥 Sliding Scale, Hospital & IV Regimens
Reactive correction scales and inpatient infusion references — including DKA and veterinary CRI. These require clinical supervision.
Sliding Scale Calculator
Generate a correction-dose table from your ISF and target BG in 25 or 50 mg/dL steps.
Insulin Drip / IV Infusion
IV insulin infusion rate and bag-concentration math for inpatient educational reference.
Drip to Subcutaneous Transition
Estimate subcutaneous TDD when moving off an IV drip, from the rate over the prior 6–8 hours.
DKA Insulin Drip
Weight-based IV insulin infusion rate for diabetic ketoacidosis — inpatient educational reference.
DKA Assessment
Anion gap and DKA severity grading (mild / moderate / severe) from laboratory values.
Insulin CRI Calculator
Veterinary constant-rate insulin infusion for diabetic dogs and cats. Consult your vet.
What is an insulin regimen?
An insulin regimen is the plan for which insulins you take, when you take them, and how each dose is decided. Most regimens combine a steady background insulin with extra doses for meals and high readings. The three approaches below cover almost everyone who uses insulin.
Basal-bolus regimen (MDI)
A once- or twice-daily long-acting injection sets the background "basal" level, while rapid-acting injections cover each meal ("bolus"). Doses are adjusted with the insulin-to-carb ratio (ICR) for food and the insulin sensitivity factor (ISF) for corrections. This is the most physiological regimen and the standard of care for type 1 diabetes.
Insulin pump (CSII)
A pump delivers rapid-acting insulin continuously as a programmed hourly basal rate, plus meal and correction boluses you request. It replaces long-acting injections with fine-grained basal control and pairs with automated insulin delivery (AID) systems that adjust to CGM readings.
Sliding scale (reactive correction)
A fixed table maps blood glucose ranges to correction doses. It is common in hospitals and for people new to insulin, but it only treats highs after they occur. Guidelines favor proactive basal-bolus dosing over sliding scale used on its own.
How basal and bolus split the total daily dose
Most starting regimens divide the total daily dose (TDD) roughly in half: about 50% as basal to hold glucose steady when you are not eating, and about 50% as bolus spread across meals. From there, the carb ratio (ICR) and sensitivity factor (ISF) translate the bolus half into per-meal and correction doses. The split is a starting point only — your care team refines it from your real glucose patterns, activity and carbohydrate intake.
Choosing the right regimen
The best regimen depends on diabetes type, lifestyle and the setting. People with type 1 diabetes need basal-bolus or a pump because they make little or no insulin of their own. Many people with type 2 diabetes start with basal insulin alone and add mealtime bolus as needed. Hospital and IV regimens — including DKA protocols and insulin drips — are managed entirely by clinical staff. These calculators are educational estimators to help you understand the numbers behind your plan, not to set or change a regimen on your own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between basal and bolus insulin?
Basal insulin is the long-acting background dose that keeps glucose steady between meals and overnight, usually given once or twice a day. Bolus insulin is the rapid-acting dose taken at meals to cover carbohydrates and to correct a high reading. A complete regimen uses both: basal for the background, bolus for the spikes.
What is a basal-bolus insulin regimen?
A basal-bolus regimen, also called multiple daily injections (MDI), combines one long-acting basal injection with rapid-acting bolus injections at each meal. It mimics how a healthy pancreas releases insulin and is the standard of care for type 1 diabetes because it allows flexible meal timing and dose adjustment.
How is the total daily dose split between basal and bolus?
A common starting point is roughly 50% basal and 50% bolus of the total daily dose (TDD), with the bolus portion divided across meals. The exact split is individualized and adjusted by your care team based on glucose patterns, carbohydrate intake and activity.
Is sliding scale insulin still recommended?
Sliding scale insulin corrects high glucose reactively from a fixed table and does not cover carbohydrates in advance. Guidelines now favor basal-bolus dosing over sliding scale alone, especially in hospital, because proactive dosing controls glucose better. Sliding scale is still used as a simple correction tool in some settings.
How do I estimate a starting insulin pump basal rate?
A typical starting estimate takes about 50% of the total daily dose as the basal portion and divides it by 24 to get an hourly rate. For example, a 40-unit TDD gives roughly 20 units of basal, or about 0.8 units/hour as a flat starting pattern, which is then fine-tuned with basal-rate testing under clinical guidance.
What is insulin on board (IOB)?
Insulin on board is the amount of a previous rapid-acting bolus that is still active in your body. Because rapid-acting insulin works for about 3–5 hours, accounting for IOB helps avoid stacking doses and lowering glucose too far when you take another correction.
Source
- American Diabetes Association. Standards of Care in Diabetes — 2024. Section 9 (Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment).
Last reviewed: June 2025