Bolus calculator in personal insulin pumps — advantages, differences and practical tips

Abstract

The widespread use of personal insulin pumps in the treatment of type 1 diabetes has significantly improved the effects of therapy. Better metabolic control of diabetes, but also increased comfort of life and professional opportunities have been achieved. One of the functions that increased the effectiveness of insulin therapy using a personal insulin pump is the bolus calculator. The bolus calculator function allows the user to dose their insulin more accurately before meals and to correct hyperglycaemia. The bolus calculator algorithms in insulin pumps of individual manufacturers differ in the way they calculate the correction dose and the amount of so-called active insulin. Consequently, with the same treatment parameters, individual bolus calculators may offer a different dose of insulin. Understanding the principles of the bolus calculator by therapeutic team members and patients is very important for proper diabetes education and diabetes management.