How to: Use the Missed Bolus Reminder

I was sitting in a 1:30pm meeting when my pump went “Beep beep beep”. It didn’t sound like a sensor alert. I knew my reservoir was half-full. And I was sure that I hadn’t hit any buttons out of the ordinary. I looked down at the screen and it read “MISSED BOLUS.” 

I scrolled to review my bolus history. Oops. 

As a matter of fact, yes, I did miss a bolus. It was a busy day, and I got wrapped up talking with a fellow coworker during lunch. My lunch bolus totally slipped my mind. I checked my blood sugar and it hadn’t gone too high yet, so I was able to bolus accordingly. Crisis averted. Phew! 

I was familiar with the “Bolus Reminder” feature, but up until recently, I never actually used it. When I went through my MiniMed^TM 530G training, my trainer asked me why I didn’t have the feature turned on. I let her know missing boluses just wasn’t something I ever did, and in my decade-plus on a pump, I could count on one hand how many times this had occurred. I also let her know that my meal times can widely vary depending on the day, and I didn’t want my pump to alert me more than it needed to. She let me know that it’s a great safety net and there really isn’t a downside to setting it up. Once I better understood the feature, I completely agree. 

Since I turned on this feature, it’s actually alerted me a few times. Sometimes it reminds me of an actual missed bolus (like during my meeting), while other times it just reminds me that I’m likely too wrapped up in my afternoon task, and it’s been too long since I’ve eaten. I’ve found both of these use cases to be helpful! 
 

Here is how the missed bolus reminder works. 
 

The Missed Bolus Reminder can either be turned on or off. If you turn it on, you can set up to four different time periods throughout the day you want to receive a meal bolus reminder. If a bolus hasn’t been given by the end of the set time period duration, you’ll receive a “Missed Bolus” alert. I have two set up, one from 11:00am-1:30pm and the other from 6:00pm-9:00pm. These are the extended time periods when I typically eat lunch and dinner, so if my pump doesn’t document that I’ve bolused during these time frames, it triggers a “Missed Bolus” alert. I used to think my pump would remind me at 11:00am and 6:00pm to bolus, but that isn’t the case. It reminds me at 1:30pm and 9:00pm if I haven’t bolused. 

It can be good if you’re just busy like me, or you can set them within smaller time constraints if you need to be reminded to bolus at all of your meals. Sometimes life just happens, and it’s nice to know that this feature can be there to alert you in case you ever need it. 

Do you use this feature? Why or why not? If you’re interested, here are the steps to set up Missed Bolus reminders on the MiniMed^TM 530G system. Check your user guide for more information. 
 

Add, Delete, and Review Bolus Reminders 
 

You have to turn on the Missed Bolus Reminder option to add, delete and review the programmed reminders.

1. Go to the MISSED BOLUS REMINDER screen.

Main > Bolus > Bolus Setup > Missed Bolus Reminder

2. Select On/Set, then press ACT.
 

Add 

You can set up to four Missed Bolus Reminders.

1. Select Add Reminder on the MISSED BOLUS REMINDER screen, then press ACT. 

2. The Start Time flashes. Times can be entered in 30 minute increments. Set the Start Time, then press ACT. 

3. After this time is set, the End Time flashes. Set the End Time, then press ACT.

If you enter the same Start Time and End Time, you will get one Missed Bolus Reminder in a 24 hour period. If you add a Missed Bolus Reminder with a start time earlier than the current pump time, you will not get this Missed Bolus Reminder until the next day. 
 

Delete

1. Select Delete Reminder on the MISSED BOLUS REMINDER screen and press ACT. 

2. In the DELETE REMINDER screen, highlight the bolus reminder that you want to delete and press ACT.
 

Review

1. Select Review Reminders on the MISSED BOLUS REMINDER screen and press ACT. 

2. Review your Missed Bolus reminders.

 IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

- Medtronic Diabetes insulin infusion pumps, continuous glucose monitoring systems and associated components are limited to sale by or on the order of a physician and should only be used under the direction of a healthcare professional familiar with the risks associated with the use of these systems. 

- Successful operation of the insulin infusion pumps and/or continuous glucose monitoring systems requires adequate vision and hearing to recognize alerts and alarms.

Medtronic Diabetes Insulin Infusion Pumps

- Insulin pump therapy is not recommended for individuals who are unable or unwilling to perform a minimum of four blood glucose tests per day. 

- Insulin pumps use rapid-acting insulin. If your insulin delivery is interrupted for any reason, you must be prepared to replace the missed insulin immediately. 

For more information, please visit: MedtronicDiabetes.com/isi.