An insulin pump is a small wearable device that delivers short-acting insulin every few minutes in tiny amounts, 24 hours a day. At the touch of a button, it also delivers extra short-acting insulin when you eat or need to bring down high blood glucose levels.
Insulin pumps may be an important tool for anybody with diabetes, particularly type 1, who needs to administer insulin.
Another way to deliver insulin is by using an insulin pump. Basal insulin is delivered continuously into a cannula on the body. In addition, when needed for a meal or correction, an insulin pump can be programmed to deliver bolus doses.
Basal rates, measured in units per hour, can be customized to individual needs since there are likely times in a day when more or less insulin is needed. It’s important to know that with standard insulin pump therapy, basal rates don’t automatically change based on glucose values.
Insulin pumps can also suggest and deliver a bolus dose when needed. Equipped with bolus calculators, insulin pumps consider the amount of carbohydrates in grams, the current blood glucose, and personalized settings to calculate a suggested amount.
We all need a constant supply of insulin to maintain normal glucose levels, as well as additional insulin for the food we eat throughout the day. With diabetes, the pancreas has limited or no ability to produce insulin and is unable to keep blood glucose ranges within normal range. Because of this, insulin must be taken from an outside source like injections or insulin pumps.
Regardless of the method, there are two ways of addressing insulin needs: 1. basal insulin 2. bolus doses Basal insulin is a constant supply of insulin that is meant to cover the body's baseline need for insulin, even during times of fasting.
Along with basal insulin, bolus doses are needed to keep your blood glucose within target, particularly after eating meals. A bolus dose is an additional dose of insulin delivered for meals (also known as a meal bolus) and/or delivered to bring down high blood glucose values (also known as a correction bolus). Watch the video to learn more about basal and bolus insulin
Learn how the artificial pancreas, also known as hybrid closed loop technology, can help you or your child reduce the impact of daily type 1 diabetes management.
How it works: The pump is programmed to deliver insulin to your body through a thin plastic tubing known as the infusion set or giving set. The infusion set has a fine needle or flexible cannula that is inserted just below your skin where it stays in place for two to three days.
nsulin pump therapy or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion is an alternative to multiple daily insulin injections. It is designed to provide a continuous flow of insulin to the body across the day.