Why Does a Person Need an Insulin Pump?

Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas that allows you to convert the food you eat into energy your body can use. Diabetes is a disease in which your body does not produce enough insulin or does not use the insulin you produce properly, according the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Diabetics who produce too little insulin must take the hormone on a regular basis. In the past, this meant giving yourself shots, often multiple times a day. If you have diabetes, you now have an option. Instead of taking insulin via an injection, you can use an insulin pump.

Insulin Pumps

• Insulin pumps are computerized devices, about the size of a beeper, that provide you with small continuous doses of insulin. Most insulin pumps are designed to be worn on your belt, in a pocket or attached to your underwear. The pumps are attached by tubing to a catheter that is inserted into your skin, usually in your stomach as pictured above. Tubeless insulin pumps are also available. These have small pods, which hold and deliver the insulin, that are attached to your body with adhesive. The pod, which delivers insulin through a small cannula, can be placed anywhere on your body.

How Insulin Pumps Work

• Both types of pumps allow you to determine the amount of insulin to be administered on a continuous basis (basal dose) and also additional amounts to be delivered at meal times (bolus doses) or after blood glucose tests (supplemental doses). Traditional pumps have controls on the unit for these settings. Tubeless pumps use wireless devices that resemble personal digital assistants (PDAs) to set the dosages.

  The pumps deliver your insulin automatically, but you must fill the pump reservoir or pod with insulin every few days based on the amount of insulin you use. Most units have a low insulin alarm. You also must change the tubing and the catheter or cannula every 2 to 3 days.

Why Use an Insulin Pump

• Tight blood sugar control is important to a diabetic's long-term health, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). "High blood glucose levels over time can result in heart disease and other health problems," according to the NIH. "Low blood glucose levels can make you feel shaky or pass out." An insulin pump can help you maintain a stable basal blood sugar level without the peaks and troughs of insulin injections.

Advantages

• Insulin pumps provide both enhanced blood sugar control and increased flexibility in managing your diabetes. Additionally, pumps eliminate the need for daily insulin injections, reduce the occurrence of severe low blood sugar levels and let you exercise when you want without eating large amounts of carbohydrates before you begin, according to the ADA.

Considerations

• Insulin pumps can be expensive and your insurance may not cover the cost of the equipment. The average cost of a pump is $6,000, and monthly supply costs range from $250 to $500, according to Diabetes Health. Also, some people find it hard to adjust to the pumps. They find the pumps "bothersome since you are attached to the pump most of the time," according to the ADA. Learning to use your pump also may require a hospital stay or outpatient education classes.