My understanding is the “snacking for free” is using “spare basal”.
When we take slow acting insulin, we assume our basal requirements are the same for 24 hours whereas is reality, we need more at different times of the day. Typically, more basal is needed at night when we are not moving. Therefore, at the time of day when we naturally need less basal, we have extra basal on board which can we “mopped” up with a lowish carb snack.
This is also the reason for treating hypos with a fast acting carb and then slow acting. The fast acting carb is to overcome the hypo and the slow acting carb is to use up any potentially extra basal.
I was only told this when I moved to a pump because a pump adjust basal for the different times of the day meaning I have no “spare basal”, have to bolus for everything and do not need for the slow acting carbs after a hypo.
When we take slow acting insulin, we assume our basal requirements are the same for 24 hours whereas is reality, we need more at different times of the day. Typically, more basal is needed at night when we are not moving. Therefore, at the time of day when we naturally need less basal, we have extra basal on board which can we “mopped” up with a lowish carb snack.
This is also the reason for treating hypos with a fast acting carb and then slow acting. The fast acting carb is to overcome the hypo and the slow acting carb is to use up any potentially extra basal.
I was only told this when I moved to a pump because a pump adjust basal for the different times of the day meaning I have no “spare basal”, have to bolus for everything and do not need for the slow acting carbs after a hypo.