Choosing Your Pump
The pumps that are available are all reliable and relatively easy to use. The companies that
make insulin pump are Animas, Deltec, Medtronic MiniMed, Roche, and Insulet (OmniPod). The pumps do have some
differences, and you may want to compare them to see what will work best for you
When comparing, you need to consider these features:
-
The size of the reservoir—this is important if you are a
large person and need higher doses of insulin
-
How quickly the bolus is
given
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The frequency of basal
delivery
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How easy is it to program
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The type of service offered by the manufacturer. Pumps are
complex and do malfunction. Your pump educators can advise you about their experiences with the
various manufacturers.
If you call the representatives of the pump companies, they will meet you to demonstrate their
products. The initial cost of the pump and related supplies is about $5,500. Once you have decided on a pump,
the representative and your medical team will help fill out the forms to get approval from your health
insurer.
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