Which statement is true regarding common insulin regimens?

• A. Basal regimens use rapid-acting insulin
• B. Basal regimens use intermediate-acting or long-acting insulin
• C. Basal regimens require injection before each meal
• D. Basal regimens are never used in type 2 diabetes

Answer: (B)

Basal insulin regimens are designed to provide a steady background level of insulin to suppress hepatic glucose production between meals and overnight. For this purpose, intermediate-acting insulins like NPH or long-acting analogs such as glargine, detemir, or degludec are used. Rapid-acting insulins, in contrast, are intended for mealtime coverage (bolus) or corrections, not as the basal component. Because of that, basal regimens typically involve one daily (or twice-daily, if needed) injections of these longer-acting options and do not require injections before every meal. They are also applicable in type 2 diabetes when oral agents no longer control glucose adequately. That makes the statement about using intermediate-acting or long-acting insulin for basal regimens the true one.