Bolus types

Device: MiniMed Flex^TM insulin pump

A bolus is the amount of insulin taken to cover an expected rise in blood glucose (BG), typically when you eat a meal or snack. You can also use a bolus to correct a high BG reading.


There are different types of bolus deliveries you can use, depending on your insulin needs at the time. There are also different ways you can deliver a bolus. Discuss these options with your healthcare professional to determine what is best for you.

Bolus types

Normal bolus: provides a single, immediate dose of insulin. You use this type of bolus to cover your food intake or to correct a high BG.

Extended Bolus: delivers insulin gradually over a set period of time instead of all at once. This can help manage glucose levels for meals that are digested more slowly or are higher in fat or protein.


• Square Wave^TM bolus delivers a single bolus evenly over an extended period of time from 30 minutes, up to 8 hours. You may use this type of bolus if you have delayed food digestion due to gastroparesis, if you are snacking over an extended period of time, or if a Normal bolus drops your BG too rapidly. This feature is not available in SmartGuard^TM technology.

• Dual Wave^TM bolus delivers a combination of a Normal bolus followed by a Square Wave^TM bolus. You might use this type of bolus when you eat meals that are both high in fat and ca

Bolus delivery options

• Bolus calculator: you enter your BG meter reading or the carbs you plan to eat, or both. Then the Bolus Wizard^TM feature calculates an estimated bolus amount based on your individual settings. You can deliver the bolus as normal, Square Wave^TM, or Dual Wave^TM. However, Square Wave^TM, or Dual Wave^TM are not available in SmartGuard^TM mode.
• Manual bolus: you do your own calculation and manually enter your bolus amount. You can deliver the bolus as normal, Square Wave^TM, or Dual Wave^TM. This bolus type is not available in SmartGuard^TM mode.