Insulin pump | Diabetes pump

The insulin pump mimics pancreas and can help people achieve better control. Insulin pumps are computerized devices, about the size of a pager or call-beeper.

Insulin pump overview

Pumps are usually clipped to the waistband and insulin is stored in the pump and travels to the body through a thin plastic tube called a catheter. On one end the tube is hooked to the pump. With the help of a very small needle, the other end is pushed through the skin into fatty tissue and is taped in place.

Insulin pump mimic pancreas

A pump is constantly dribbling insulin. This is called basal delivery since it forms the “base” of the insulin need. Wear the pump all the time. Can be taken off for about an hour for things like swimming or taking a bath, but otherwise it’s always on. With the help of the health care team, program the pump so it knows how much insulin to dribble and how much to squirt at meal or snack time (This is called a bolus - it’s like an insulin booster). It's important to check the blood glucose level (by glucose monitor) several times a day to make sure the insulin pump and the catheter are working okay.

And, of course, there is a need to make adjustments for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) that happens accidentally.

If you are interested in an insulin pump, discuss with your health care team and see if they think it would work for you. Some people get the benefit of an insulin pump without an insulin pump. They do this by using both short acting and long-lasting insulin. You may want to ask your doctor about doing this if you decide against a pump.

Insulin pump training

Training for the pump usually involves a one-hour training session with a diabetes educator, and a return visit several days later to set up the pump, set basal rates and administer a bolus, and learn when and how to change the infusion set.

One who going to use the pump should achieve technical competence with the following insulin pump therapy tasks:

inserting the diabetes pump cannula
delivering a dose of insulin through the pump (bolus)
checking diabetes pump memory (time of the last bolus dose)
troubleshooting (determine a problem with the diabetes pump) and
replacing batteries.

Advantage of insulin pump

All with type 1 diabetes require insulin from an outside source. To live with diabetes, they must control their blood glucose by balancing food, insulin, and exercise. Insulin can be given by traditional injection, insulin pen, or pump. The pump acts somewhat like (mimic) the pancreas by delivering insulin continuously. The insulin pump has several advantages over other forms of insulin delivery:

Precise infusion — Diabetes Pump deliver insulin as little as one tenth of a unit – that can be closely matched to the needs.
Easy predictable — Absorption of short-acting insulin, which is used in diabetes pump, is more predictable than that of long-acting insulin.
Continuous infusion —Diabetes Pump delivers basal insulin 24 hours a day and also allows the user to change the amount infused on an hourly basis, if necessary.
Painless —Diabetes pump holds a supply of insulin for several days and it eliminates the need for scheduled injections since it delivers insulin continuously.
Individualized —Diabetes pump can be programmed to meet each person’s needs and is easily adjusted to keep blood glucose levels in the target range during illness or physical activity.
Smart Intelligence — Most diabetes pump calculate insulin doses needed based on carbohydrate intake, user’s personal insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio and insulin sensitivity factor, and insulin still active in the body from the previous dose.
Convenient control —Diabetes pump can be lifesaving for children who have a history of widely fluctuating blood glucose levels. People who use the pump are better able to keep their blood glucose in the target range.
Freedom —Diabetes pump gives children more freedom to vary when, what and how much they eat, through the continuous infusion of short-acting insulin and the ability to “cover” with additional doses as needed.

Disadvantages of Insulin pump

Uncomfortable - Since the insulin pump needs to be worn most of the time, diabetes pump users need to careful to avoid any damage to diabetes pump. Some users may find that wearing diabetes pump all the time (together with the infusion set tubing) is uncomfortable.
Unexpected incidents - An episode of diabetic ketoacidosis(Near complete deficiency of insulin and elevated levels of certain stress hormones combine to cause DKA.) may occur if diabetes pump user does not receive sufficient fast acting insulin for many hours. This can happen if insulin pump battery is discharged, if the insulin reservoir runs empty, the tubing becomes loose or insulin leaks rather than being injected, or if the cannula becomes bent or kinked in the body, preventing delivery. Therefore pump users typically monitor their blood sugars more frequently to evaluate the effectiveness of insulin delivery.
Infection - There is also a risk that the insertion site might become irritated or infected. Insulin pump user will have to change the insertion site every two or three days in order to avoid infection.
Costly - Since insulin pumps can cost more compare to other insulin delivery systems.

Next: Jet Injector

Last modified date 27th November 2009

All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.

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