How to Calculate Bolus

Bolus is a term associated with diabetes patients that refers to the insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio. Diabetes patients have to take insulin to counteract their carbohydrate intake after meals; generally, one dose of insulin will counteract 12 to 15 grams of carbohydrates. However, this may vary from person to person, as insulin sensitivity varies. For this reason, use these Bolus calculations as a general guideline and consult your physician for specific instructions about your situation.

Things You'll Need

• Insulin
• Insulin injection tools

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Instructions

• 1

  Calculate your carbohydrate, or "CHO," intake for each meal. Review the dietary labels on meal packaging for specifics. As an example, assume you eat 80 grams of CHO during one meal.

• 2

  Find the insulin-to-CHO ratio associated with your insulin. Refer the insulin's documentation or consult your physician if you need more information. As an example, assume the ratio is 1:10, which means 1 dose of insulin will counteract 10 grams of CHO.

• 3

  Calculate the insulin dose using the formula:

  Dose = CHO/grams

  where "grams" is the second number in the insulin-to-CHO ratio. Continuing the example from Step 2 using 10 grams:

  Dose = 80/10 = 8.

  This means you will need 8 units of insulin to counteract 80 grams of CHO.