How does an insulin pump therapy work?
The insulin pump is a battery-operated device with a quick-acting insulin reservoir that provides both basal (background) and quick-acting insulin doses. Importantly, newer technology now enables programmable memory, variable basal rates, and easy titration and bolusing methods.
An insulin pump, also known as continuous subcutaneous insulin therapy, is a medical device used to provide insulin in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Depending on the design, the device configuration may differ. A typical pump consists of the following components:
1. The nozzle (including controls, a processing module, and batteries)
2. A disposable insulin reservoir (inside the pump)
3. A disposable infusion set that includes a cannula for subcutaneous (under the skin) insertion and tubing to link the insulin reservoir to the cannula.
When used in combination with blood glucose monitoring and carbohydrate counting, an insulin pump offers an alternative to several daily insulin injections using insulin syringes or an insulin pen. It allows for more flexible insulin management.
The insulin pumps can be worn on straps under the cloths, pockets, and belts, or attached with adhesives on the stomach or arm.
Read more – Everything you need to know about insulin
Why are insulin pumps used?
People with diabetes don’t produce enough insulin on their own. Instead, patients must rely on insulin shots to keep their blood sugar under control. Pumps provide a constant supply of insulin, reducing the number of needle pokes. They’re also a wonderful alternative for kids or anyone who forgets to take their insulin shots. Insulin pumps are more convenient than insulin pen injections for certain people because they stay linked to the body.
Read more – Evolution of Insulin treatment
Who can use insulin pumps?
It is a personal choice whether or not to use an insulin pump. You should consider using an insulin pump if you:
1. Food absorption takes longer than usual.
2. When you exercise, you may want to halt your insulin dosages.
3. Have severe hypoglycemic responses.
4. You have diabetes and are thinking about starting a family.
For young persons with Type 1 diabetes, insulin pumps can be a useful alternative. Even for children and those who have problems keeping to an insulin injection schedule, a pump can provide a consistent supply of insulin.
Read more The End of Insulin: Are We Any Closer to a Diabetes Cure?
What happens while using insulin pumps?
In an insulin pump, insulin is delivered in one of two ways:
1. Insulin dosages are given in small, regular increments (basal insulin).
2. Insulin spikes around mealtimes (bolus insulin).
Even if you’re using an insulin pump, you should still monitor your blood sugar levels. The average person checks their blood sugar four times every day. Alternatively, you might utilize a continuous glucose monitor.
The pump calculates how much bolus insulin you need based on the information you provide about your food consumption and blood sugar levels. After that, the pump will suggest a bolus dose to you and will wait for your consent before administering it. Furthermore, some pumps alter baseline dosages automatically based on glucose readings from a continuous glucose monitor.
Let’s talk about the disadvantages and advantages of insulin pumps as this revolutionary diabetes management technology.
What are the advantages of insulin pumps?
1. There will be fewer needle sticks needed. When you change your infusion set on a pump, you’ll need one shot every few days.
2. A pump is more precise than injections and can help you regulate your blood sugar levels better.
3. Because you must take bigger quantities of insulin at once, injections have a higher risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). A pump decreases the danger by providing a constant supply of insulin. This is especially useful at night when too much insulin might cause a nocturnal hypoglycemia response.
4. It has the potential to lower your hemoglobin A1C levels.
5. It’s simpler to dose for meals and snacks.
6. It’s simpler to schedule workouts. With an insulin pump in place, you don’t have to eat large amounts of carbohydrates before you work out to maintain glucose levels.
7. It’s less difficult to bolus. If your schedule causes you to eat at odd hours or skip a meal every now and again, a pump might help you adjust more readily. Bolus insulin may be delivered to cover a meal with the easy touch of a button because pumps employ fast-acting insulin.
8. It aids in the management of elevated blood sugar in the early morning, often known as the “dawn phenomenon.”
What are the disadvantages of insulin pumps?
1. You run the danger of infection if you don’t replace the insertion site of the cannula (the tube that contains the needle) every two or three days.
2. More frequent blood sugar checks: This is especially important during the first several months of using the pump. The only way to know if your basal rate and bolus are operating properly is to test frequently. If you’re using an insulin pump, you should be willing and able to check your glucose levels four times a day with a finger-prick blood test. Separate continuous glucose monitors are used by certain pumps, such as a sensor-augmented pump, for convenience.
3. Increased risk of high glucose levels: Disconnecting from the pump for an extended period or failing to check blood glucose levels regularly might result in high glucose levels, which can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis.
4. Weight gain: Patients with greater initial basal insulin levels have a higher risk of gaining weight. Furthermore, insulin is a fat-producing hormone. As a result, the more insulin you inject, the more weight you’ll acquire.
5. Price: Insulin pumps are costly, and insurance may or may not cover the expense.
