Insulin Pump Use
Can
anyone with diabetes use an insulin pump? Insulin pumps are used most often by people
with
type 1 diabetes. But some people with type 2 diabetes also use them. Insulin pumps
can be
used instead of giving insulin by injection. The FDA allows children as young as age
2 to
use certain insulin pumps.
These
small devices clip to your clothing or attach directly to your body. The pump delivers
insulin through a tube (catheter) attached to your skin, often on the belly, thigh,
or
buttock. It delivers a continuous (basal) dose of insulin 24 hours a day. Before a
meal,
you push a button to give yourself a spike of insulin for food. Supplemental or correction
doses may be used to treat high glucose levels, if needed.
Pumps
are useful for people who already take insulin but still don't have good glucose control.
Using a pump takes a lot of training. They are not for everyone. You must work closely
with
a diabetes specialist, watch your blood glucose, count carbohydrates, and keep food
records. But it may be worth thinking about if you take insulin and still have trouble
with
glucose control. And if you're committed to better diabetes management. It may be
expensive. But it is much more convenient for some people who need 4 or more insulin
injections daily.
New insulin pump models and similar
systems are becoming available all the time. One of these newer pump models may have
a
feature that is just right for you, such as a lower basal insulin rate during exercise.
Or
a pump may be connected to a monitor that also checks your blood sugar. It makes changes
based on your blood sugar values. Your diabetes educator may help you try several
types
until you find one that works well for you.