The nurse is teaching a group of patients about management of diabetes. Which statement about basal dosing is correct?

Choice A rationale: Basal dosing involves a continuous, low-level release of insulin throughout the day and night to mimic the pancreas's natural basal insulin secretion. This helps to maintain stable blood glucose levels between meals and overnight, preventing hyperglycemia. Long-acting insulins like glargine or detemir are used for this purpose. Choice B rationale: This statement describes bolus or prandial insulin dosing, not basal dosing. Bolus insulin is administered before meals to manage the anticipated rise in blood glucose from food intake. Basal insulin provides a constant background level and does not correlate with specific meals. Choice C rationale: Glargine is a long-acting basal insulin. It is designed to be given once or twice a day to provide a steady, continuous insulin level. Bolus insulin, such as lispro or aspart, is given with meals to cover the carbohydrate intake. Glargine should never be used as a bolus with meals due to its delayed onset and peakless profile. Choice D rationale: Basal-bolus dosing is the modern, intensive method of managing blood glucose, not the traditional one. The traditional approach often involved fixed-dose insulin regimens. Basal-bolus therapy, which combines long-acting basal insulin with short-acting bolus insulin, is a more flexible and effective approach that more closely mimics normal pancreatic function.