Extended Bolus with an Insulin Pump
These instructions are for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) patients with an insulin pump to learn about extended boluses.
Important information:
Most of the time, insulin pumps deliver bolus doses of insulin right away. There are times when receiving insulin over a longer period can better match the foods you eat, especially if you are eating foods that are higher in fat or protein. The extended bolus feature on your pump can help you do this.
An extended bolus is similar to the way the pancreas works when you eat meal that takes longer to digest. Fat slows down digestion and blood sugars stay high for a longer time.
High-fat foods that may require an extended bolus:
Foods like those above may cause you to need more insulin later on. Learn more about how food affects blood sugar.
Please note that if you are using an automated insulin pump, you may not need to use extended boluses. You also may not be able to use this feature in automated mode. Please refer to your pump manufacturer for more details.
Patient instructions:
Learn how to deliver an extended bolus with your:
The Medtronic® insulin pump can deliver an extended bolus as a "square wave" or "dual wave." Square wave is used less often. Learn more about these options.
If the blood sugar is too high or too low during or after the extended bolus, you may need to try something different. Talk with your team to review other suggestions.
Reviewed on March 17, 2023, by Lisa Miller, CDE, RD, LDN, CPT