USING AN INSULIN PUMP
An insulin pump is a device the size of a pager. It contains a syringe or
reservoir filled with a fast-acting insulin, a battery-powered syringe plunger, and a small computer to control the insulin delivery. The
syringe is attached to tubing, which in turn is attached to a small plastic tube (cannula) inserted under the
skin. The pump can be programmed to put tiny drops of insulin into the subcutaneous tissues every three to ten
minutes day and night—this is the basal insulin. When you eat, you can program the pump to give a bolus of
insulin for the food. Thus, when you are on the pump, you use only a fast-acting insulin to provide both your
basal and bolus needs.
Often, people with type 1 diabetes will decide to go on an insulin pump
for their diabetes control. The pump does not check glucose levels, nor does it decide how much insulin to give.
It does allow you to tailor your basal insulin to your needs. With a pump, you are better able to reduce your
insulin levels for exercise. A major advantage is that the pump reduces the number of insulin
injections—essentially, you are doing one injection every three days.
There is a fair amount of work involved in using an insulin pump, and you
will have to be proactive in terms of managing the diabetes and feel comfortable taking the initiative and
adjusting your insulin dose for food and activity. You will need to check your blood glucose as many times or
more often than when you were on injections. You also have to set basal rates and make decisions on how much
bolus insulin you should give.
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