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Warsaw Method (FPU) Calculator

Calculate insulin for the slow rise from fat and protein in a meal — for pump users with extended (square-wave) bolus capability.

1 FPU = 100 kcal from fat + protein. 1 FPU is treated like 10 g of "slow carbs" delivered as an extended bolus over hours.

What Is the Warsaw Method?

Developed at the Medical University of Warsaw, the Warsaw Method (also called the Pańkowska method) accounts for the post-prandial blood glucose rise caused by fat and protein, not just carbohydrates. This is especially relevant for high-fat, high-protein meals like pizza, ribs, or cheese-heavy dishes where the glucose excursion peaks 3–6 hours after eating.

Key Concepts

  • WBU (Carb Unit) — 10 g of carbohydrate
  • FPU (Fat-Protein Unit) — 100 kcal from fat and protein combined (1 g fat = 9 kcal, 1 g protein = 4 kcal)
  • Bolus split — Carbs covered by an immediate (normal) bolus; FPUs covered by an extended (square-wave) bolus over 3–8 hours depending on the number of FPUs

Extended Bolus Duration

  • 1 FPU — 3 hours
  • 2 FPU — 4 hours
  • 3 FPU — 5 hours
  • ≥4 FPU — 6–8 hours

Disclaimer

This is educational information. Always work with your endocrinologist or diabetes educator before changing insulin doses. Individual insulin sensitivity to fat-protein varies significantly.