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Rationale of the Week | What defines overbasalization according to 2025 ADA Standards?

For last week’s practice question, we quizzed participants on what defines overbasalization according to 2025 ADA Standards?. 52% of respondents chose the best answer. We want to clarify and share this important information, so you can pass it on to people living with diabetes and your colleagues, plus prepare for exam success!

 

Before we start though, if you don’t want any spoilers and haven’t tried the question yet, you can answer it below: Answer Question 

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 Question:  What defines overbasalization according to 2025 ADA Standards?

According to the new 2025 ADA Standards of Care, which of the following most accurately reflects overbasalization?

Answer Choices:

  1. basal insulin doses exceeding 0.5 units/kg/day
  2. significant bedtime-to-morning or postprandial-to-preprandial glucose differential
  3. low glycemic variability
  4. basal insulin dose exceeding 50 units twice per day

Getting to the Best Answer

If you are thinking about taking the certification exam, this practice test question will set you up for success. Test writers anticipate possible answers based on the details in the question. They will wave those “juicy answers” right under your nose. Your job is to weed through the particulars, pluck out the most important elements and choose the BEST answer.

Answer 1 is incorrect. 25% chose this answer: basal insulin doses exceeding 0.5 units/kg/day. This year, the ADA Recommendation was revised to remove consideration of basal insulin doses exceeding 0.5 units/kg/day as evidence of overbasalization. Instead, signs of overbasalization including significant bedtime-to-morning or postprandial-to-preprandial glucose differential, occurrences of hypoglycemia (aware or unaware), and high glycemic variability should be used.

Answer 2 is correct. 52% of you chose this answer: significant bedtime-to-morning or postprandial-to-preprandial glucose differential.  GREAT JOB!  In the 2025 ADA Standards (9), they define overbasalization as significant bedtime-to-morning or postprandial-to-preprandial glucose differential, occurrences of hypoglycemia (aware or unaware), and high glycemic variability.

Answer 3 is incorrect. About 18% of respondents chose this: low glycemic variability, This is a juicy and tempting answer. However, high glycemic variability (lots of ups and downs) is more closely associated with hypoglycemia.

Finally, Answer 4 is incorrect 3% chose this answer: basal insulin dose exceeding 50 units twice per day. Overbasalization is not defined by the amount of insulin used, but by the glucose response including significant bedtime-to-morning or postprandial-to-preprandial glucose differential, occurrences of hypoglycemia (aware or unaware), and high glycemic variability

We hope you appreciate this week’s rationale! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our Question of the Week and participate in this fun learning activity!

Want to learn more about this question?

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