In the case of diabetes mellitus, it is a low rate of continuous insulin supply needed for such purposes as controlling cellular glucose and amino acid uptake.
In healthy individuals, basal rate is monitored by the pancreas, which provides a regular amount of insulin at all times.
Basal rate requirements can differ for individuals depending on the activities they will carry out on that particular day.
Activities, such as sports, housework, shopping, gardening, tidying the house, and consuming alcohol all require a lowering in basal rate.
However one monitors and regulates their blood sugar levels and basal rates, it is important to make changes gradually.
Thus, the basal rate could theoretically be set based on an averaged bolus insulin intake of several days.
Averaging the total bolus, and then dividing this number by 36 would then give the required hourly basal rate intake for any individual with a 60:40 ratio established.