Insulin Pump

Diabetes management and glucose control can be a tough, challenging and painful ordeal. If you are a diabetic that must take several insulin shots on a daily basis, you probably know how unpleasant and inconvenient this task can become. Over the past few years, a high tech device called an insulin pump has revolutionized the way diabetics get their insulin. Easier to use, convenient and more effective, many are now using insulin pumps and are keeping their blood glucose levels under control.

One of the key improvements on this is the insulin pump, which allows a diabetic to put a pre-measured dose of insulin in their system without messing around with syringes.

Insulin Pumps take away the hassles and pain of having to inject insulin several times a day. They are also much more accurate and effective in the delivery of insulin than regular shots. If you are having trouble controlling your blood glucose levels with shots, you should consider using a pump. Consult with your healthcare professional and find out if a pump is right for you.

A pump usually has a 2-3 day supply of rapid acting insulin in its reservoir; the reservoir connects to the body through a thin tube, which plugs into a cannula in your body, which acts like a lodged input port. Like the reservoir, the cannula has to be changed every two to three days to maintain sterility and avoid infections.

The insulin pump facilitates continuous insulin infusion by injecting a continuous (basal) dose of insulin round the clock and supplemental (bolus) doses just before meal time. The insulin pump comprises of a pump and an infusion set (a syringe, equipped with a microprocessor and a catheter placed subcutaneously in the layer of fat just under the skin in the abdominal area).

However, the insulin pump involves a lot of maintenance issues such as change of batteries, infusion sets, insulin vials, etc to prevent the onset of infection at the site of insertion. Daily monitoring of blood sugars levels and urine testing is compulsory in order to regulate the insulin dosage according to the reading obtained.

The insulin used in insulin pumps is fast acting insulin so it is believed to be a better alternative to most syringe administered insulin, that is slow acting, and is generally an approximation of the amount of insulin that will be needed by the body.

On the negative side, an insulin pump has to be worn all the time so it might be inconvenient for some people that play sport or swim. Strategies have to be developed as a work around for these situations. Insulin pumps are more expensive than the normal syringe method of insulin therapy. Changing from slow to fast acting insulin may cause diabetic ketoacidosis if the fast acting insulin is stopped for some reason, like the supply runs out for example or the cannula gets detached.

The leading pump manufacturers are Animas, Disetronic, Medtronic Minimed and Cozmo. Every manufacturer offer different features, it is recommended to do a little research before deciding which one to get, and determining which insulin pump offers the features that are right for you. Because insulin pumps are expensive devices, ranging from $4000 to $6000, make sure you find out if your insurance company will cover the costs of the pump and the supplies.

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