There are a variety of reasons why you may need to use a pump to administer your insulin. This can be due to a change in lifestyle, such as pregnancy, or it could be caused by medical conditions like kidney disease. According to experts at Tandem Diabetes, “finding the right infusion set is an important part of successful insulin pump therapy.” So, it’s important that you know how it works and what type of pump is best for your situation.
What are the different types of insulin pumps?
Insulin pumps have been around since the mid-1980s. They are small, portable devices that deliver insulin through a needle inserted under the skin. They can be worn on your belt, in a pocket or attached to clothing with an elastic band.
There are two types of insulin pumps:
- External Insulin Pumps (EIP): These use tubing to connect the pump to a needle under the skin. The pump itself is hand-held and may be programmed or monitored by a computer at home and/or at work.
- Closed Loop Insulin Pumps (CLIP): CLIPs contain an internal sensor that measures how much glucose is in the bloodstream, then automatically adjusts the flow rate of insulin accordingly so as not to cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). These devices must be maintained by trained professionals who replace disposable parts every three months or so, depending on usage patterns.
Insulin pump benefits and downsides.
The benefits of an insulin pump can be life-changing for people with type 1 diabetes, who have to manage their blood sugar levels every day. By eliminating the need for multiple injections, pumps can improve patients’ overall health and quality of life.
Pumps are also great for people with type 2 diabetes who have difficulty controlling their blood sugar on oral medications or those who have trouble self-administering injections. An insulin pump for type 2 diabetes makes it easier to maintain even blood sugar throughout the day, which reduces the risk of complications like heart disease and kidney failure.
As with any medical device, there are some downsides to insulin pumps as well; they’re expensive and require careful maintenance by a healthcare professional or trained technician. Additionally, many patients find them complicated to use initially–and they must be programmed carefully in order to avoid dangerous lows or highs in blood glucose readings during therapy sessions (which typically last four hours).
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How do I choose an insulin pump?
Upon deciding to use an insulin pump, the next step is to determine what type of pump will work best for your needs.
- The first thing to consider is how much flexibility you need. If you are on several different types of insulin and want more than one basal rate at once, then a hybrid closed loop system may be good for you.
- The second thing to consider is what type of lifestyle you lead and how much time each day you want or are able to spend with your pump. Some pumps allow greater customization than others, so if this is important, it may be worth paying more money for a device that allows more options.
- Insurance coverage can also affect which pump makes sense for your needs – different companies offer different levels of coverage for specific meters or devices depending on their costs and effectiveness (and sometimes even their popularity).
The diabetic pumps have helped many people with the condition to stay healthy and live a normal life. The pumps are portable, affordable and easy to use devices that can be used at any time. They monitor your blood glucose levels so that you can make adjustments when necessary.