Warsaw Method Calculator

Enter your meal's fat (g) and protein (g) along with your insulin-to-carb ratio (IC ratio) to calculate fat-protein units (FPUs), carbohydrate equivalents, and your recommended extended bolus insulin dose. An optional bolus adjustment factor lets you fine-tune the result to your personal response. Used by insulin pump users managing post-meal blood glucose spikes from high-fat, high-protein meals.

g

Total grams of fat in the meal

g

Total grams of protein in the meal

g/unit

Grams of carbohydrate covered by 1 unit of insulin

Optional multiplier to personalise your dose (default = 1)

Results

Extended Bolus Insulin Dose

--

Fat Calories

--

Protein Calories

--

Total Fat + Protein Calories

--

Fat-Protein Units (FPU)

--

Carbohydrate Equivalent

--

Suggested Extended Bolus Duration

--

Fat vs Protein Calorie Breakdown

Results Table

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Warsaw Method and how does it work?

The Warsaw Method is a diabetes management protocol developed in Warsaw for Type 1 diabetic patients using insulin pumps. It accounts for the delayed blood glucose rise caused by dietary fat and protein by converting these macronutrients into carbohydrate equivalents, then calculating an additional insulin dose delivered as an extended (dual-wave) bolus over several hours.

What is a Fat-Protein Unit (FPU)?

A Fat-Protein Unit (FPU) is a standardised measure that groups the caloric contribution of fat and protein into units equivalent to 10 kcal each. One FPU equals 10 kcal coming from fat and protein combined, which is then treated as roughly equivalent to 10 g of carbohydrate for insulin dosing purposes.

How do you calculate FPUs?

First, calculate fat calories (fat grams × 9) and protein calories (protein grams × 4). Add these together to get total fat-protein calories, then divide by 100. For example, 20 g fat and 30 g protein gives (180 + 120) / 100 = 3 FPUs.

How do you calculate the carbohydrate equivalent for fat and protein?

The carbohydrate equivalent is calculated by dividing the total fat-protein calories (fat kcal + protein kcal) by 10. This treats every 10 kcal of fat and protein as equivalent to 1 g of carbohydrate for the purpose of insulin dose calculation.

How do you calculate the insulin dose for fat and protein?

Divide the carbohydrate equivalent by your insulin-to-carb ratio (IC ratio). If you have a personalised adjustment factor, multiply the result by that factor. For example, a carb equivalent of 30 g with an IC ratio of 10 g/unit gives 3 units of extended bolus insulin.

How do you calculate the duration of an extended bolus for fat and protein?

The extended bolus duration depends on the number of FPUs: 1 FPU → 2 hours, 2 FPUs → 3 hours, 3 FPUs → 4 hours, 4 FPUs → 5 hours, and 5 or more FPUs → 8 hours. Higher fat and protein content delays glucose absorption more, requiring a longer delivery window.

Who should use the Warsaw Method Calculator?

This calculator is intended for Type 1 diabetic patients who use an insulin pump and experience post-meal blood glucose spikes after high-fat, high-protein meals. It should always be used under the guidance of a certified diabetes educator or physician, as individual insulin needs vary significantly.

What is the FPU of a meal with 10 g of fat and 20 g of protein?

Fat calories = 10 × 9 = 90 kcal. Protein calories = 20 × 4 = 80 kcal. Total = 170 kcal. FPU = 170 / 100 = 1.7 FPUs, which corresponds to a suggested extended bolus duration of approximately 2–3 hours.

More Health & Fitness Tools