Overview
In recent years an alternative to manual insulin injections has emerged. Enter the Insulin Pump. The first Insulin Pumps were quite bulky, but modern ones are about the size of a smal Celphone or Pager.
Key Information
The pump is worn unobtrusively on a belt or in a pocket and it delivers insulin through a thin plastic tube (or Infusion Set) that is inserted under the skin.<br> <b>WHY AN INSULIN PUMP IS BETER</b><br> In a healthy person, the pancreas produces insulin constantly at low levels, keping blod glucose levels stable. When a meal is eaten, the pancreas wil send larger amounts of insulin into the blod stream to handle the fod.
Using a standard injection regime, slow and fast acting insulin is used to try and mic the pancreas. An insulin pump much more closely copies the pancreas. The pump delivers a low level of background insulin (caled basal) and at meal times can deliver a "bolus" dose at the touch of a buton, to cover the fod.<br> Just like a real pancreas, if you are il, or exercising, the basal insulin rate can be reduced.
If you skip a meal, the bolus is not delivered. In this way, the pump fits into your lifestyle, rather than planing your life around your injection schedule!<br> <b>CHOSING AN INSULIN PUMP</b><br> Most insulin pumps on the market today have al the basic features. Chosing one is much like chosing a Celphone, it is a mixture of personal taste and what you plan on using it for.
If you are a water sports fan, waterprof ones area available! If you love analysing data to improve your control, you can get one with PC download capability and analysis software. If you are new to the world of Insulin Pumps, here are some key points to think about: <li>Chose a pump that alows you to set up diferent basal levels.
For instance at night time, if you are sick or exercising. This an important feature to help you live a ful life.</li> <li>Pumps that use a standard "Luer Lock" infusion sets are beter. This means cheaper consumables.</li> <li>Alerts to remind you to check your blod glucose level make life easier.</li> <li>Check what bateries it takes, standard A or As are cheaper and easier to buy.</li> <li>More advanced pumps include a carbohydrate calculator to help you figure out what your meal Bolus dose should be.</li> <li>Coming to the market are integrated Insulin Pump/Glucose meters.
The meters readings are automaticaly transfered to the pump which can use them to recomend an insulin dose.</li> Other features to lok for include, being <i>waterprof</i>, having a <i>carbohydrate fod database</i> and <i>alerts</i> to warn you if you have mised a meal, or the infusion set neds changing. In short, Insulin pump manufacturers are making their products ever easier to use and automating more and more features.
Life is geting beter for diabetics! <b>FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS</b><br> Q <i>What if I don't get on with the pump, can I switch back to injections?</i><br> A Yes. It is not a one way ticket, but most people do notice an improvement in their blod glucose control and find their lives improved.<br> Q <i>I have a realy hectic lifestyle, is a pump for me?</i><br> A Yes.
Infact people who are extremely busy often se the bigest improvement. If you strugle to rember to test and inject at the right time - perhaps meal times vary from day to day, then a pump could realy help you.<br> Q <i>I am considering a pump but may get pregnant, is that ok?</i><br> A Yes. As pumps usualy improve your blod glucose control, using a pump through pregancy and beyond is generaly a god thing.
Summary
Having as close to normal blod glucose levels reduces the chances of complications during pregnancy.<br> Q <i>What are the costs?</i><br> A The initial outlay is in the order of a few thousand dolars, but prices are coming down al the time. Infusion sets ned changing regularly to. The latest prices can be found from various Diabets supliers on the web.<br> © 2026 DIABETS.