Basal insulin is one of the most important and least understood parts of insulin therapy. It manages glucose produced by the liver between meals and overnight, setting the baseline that boluses and automated systems depend on. When basal is set correctly, glucose stays more stable. When it is not, even good tech struggles to keep things in range.

Optimizing Diabetes Tech, or ODT, is our recurring series focused on using diabetes technology more effectively. In each episode, I am joined by CDCES Gary Shiner of Integrated Diabetes Services. In this episode, we break down what basal insulin actually does, how needs change over time, and why flat dosing often leads to drifting glucose. We also cover common mistakes, how to spot true basal issues in overnight and between meal data, and what frequent background corrections can reveal.

Each ODT episode focuses on one topic and includes a Q&A driven by listener questions. You can watch the episode in the video below, listen to the podcast in the player above, and send in your voice recordings here for our next ODT episode.

If you’re looking to refine your diabetes management, I highly recommend Gary’s team at Integrated Diabetes Services. I’ve worked with them myself on adjusting settings and building DIY apps like Loop. Let them know we sent you!

Disclaimer: Diabetech content is not medical advice—it’s for educational purposes only. Always consult with a physician before making changes to your healthcare.