How to choose the right insulin pump to fit your needs.
What's involved in pump therapy?
Training with the use of your insulin pump.
Setting up your new insulin pump.
How to prepare your pump for use.
Properly preparing the infusion set for use with your insulin pump.
Now your pumping! So now what? Where do I go from here?
Testing your blood sugars.
Seting your personal Basal Rates and updating them when the time comes.
Bolusing - Correction bolus and meal bolus
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Meal and Correction Bolus

A bolus is the amount of insulin you will program into your insulin pump just before you eat, and correct a high blood sugar.

For meal boluses, you will have to be careful about how many carbohydrates (carbs) you eat.  This is were meal planning and carb counting classes definitely come into play.

Your doctor will help you adjust your bolus when you first start pumping, but may have to be adjusted sometime after you begin using insulin in your pump.

Here are some examples of boluses will affect you.

  • Meal Bolus - The amount of insulin you will take for so many carbs.  Example: Taking 1 unit of insulin for each 15 grams of Carbs.

  • Correction Bolus - The amount of insulin to help drop your blood sugar in case it is high.  Example: 1 unit of insulin for each 30 points above your normal sugar range.

I started pumping by bolusing 1 unit of insulin for each 15 grams of carbs.  This changed about a week after I started pumping.  I still pump 1 unit for each 15 grams of carbs for lunch and dinner, but for breakfast, I use 1 unit for each 10 grams of carbs.  Keeping track of your blood sugar and reporting these sugars to your doctor will help him or her determine any changes they see fit.