When a diabetic gets insulin from scheduled injections, the life of that diabetic frequently needs to be planned around that injection schedule. When a diabetic wears an insulin pump, then the administration of the needed insulin matches the lifestyle of the medicated diabetic. An insulin pump helps a diabetic to enjoy life to the fullest.

An insulin pump gives a diabetic a better way to maintain a blood sugar level that falls within a specific “target zone.” The most technologically advanced insulin pumps have both a pump and continuous glucose monitoring. The monitor measures and records the extent to which diet, exercise and medications have an effect on blood glucose levels.

The best engineered insulin pumps do more than push, sending a steady supply of insulin into the bloodstream. Yet every insulin pump does have a long, soft and thin strand that carries pumped insulin into the bloodstream. A well-monitored insulin pump carefully regulates the amount and flow rate of the insulin in that soft, thin strand.

The most technologically advanced insulin pumps have a tiny sensor. A diabetic can expect that sensor to function of three days, before needing to be replaced. The sensor gathers data on the blood glucose level in the pump wear’s bloodstream.

The data gathered by the sensor serves two purposes. First, the senor sends that data to a transmitter. The transmitter uses a set radio frequency to signal the pump monitor. The pump monitor controls the amount and rate of flow or insulin in the attached strand, the thin strand that carries the insulin into the bloodstream.

The data gathered by the sensor also supplies the pump wearer with important information. Data from the sensor is displayed in a window on the pump monitor. That window shows the gathered data as both figures and graphs. Still, pump makers realize that no diabetic is going to spend all his or her time watching the monitor’s window display. Thus the monitor sounds an alarm when blood glucose levels go above or below the desired “target zone.”

When a pump wearer hears the alarm on the pump monitor, then he or she knows that the pump must send out an added dose of insulin. Armed with the proper training, the pump wearer knows how to direct the pumping action that will produce that added amount of insulin. The pump wearer understands that the pump delivers three types of insulin doses.

Most of the insulin delivered by the insulin pump comes through the thin thread at a basal rate. The pump sends out a basal insulin dose 24 hours a day. The pump can be programmed to change the basal insulin dose during the course of the day. That gives the diabetic freedom to engage in energy demanding activities whenever he or she wants.

A pump wearer can use the buttons on the pump monitor to trigger the release of a bolus dose of insulin. The pump wearer usually pushes those buttons after eating meal that contained many carbohydrates. The pump’s bolus dose of insulin acts like an injection of insulin after a carbohydrate-laden meal.

When a diabetic wears one of the latest insulin pumps, then he or she can request the release of correction or supplemental insulin doses. A correction/ supplemental dose differ from a bolus dose. A correction/ supplemental dose allows a diabetic to request added insulin if he or she has a high glucose level and plans to sit down to a meal.

While technologically advanced, the insulin pump does not represent the latest addition to the mod fashion world. An insulin pump does have a long, unsightly thread. Fortunately, pump makers have designed many ways by which a pump wearer can hide that long thread. Diabetics can purchase elastic waist bands and elastic wrist bands; one of those bands can hold an insulin pump.

There are some restrictions on the diabetic who has chosen to wear an insulin pump. No diabetic should be without a pump for more than one to two hours. Still, the insulin pump should not be worn when one is swimming, bathing or showering. The insulin pump needs to be removed from the diabetic who plans to become submerged in or doused by water.

A diabetic does not need to worry if he or she is caught in the rain while wearing an insulin pump. Water will not damage an insulin pump. The need for removal of the insulin pump while swimming, bathing or showering focuses on the presence in pool and bathing areas of many bacteria. Care must be taken to keep bacteria out of an insulin pump.

Keep in mind the nature of the fluid in the insulin pump. It is a fluid that comes in contact with the bloodstream. The insulin pump can provide a bacterium with an excellent route into the bloodstream. Because there are no natural germ fighters in the pump thread, a bacterium faces no obstacle on its way into the bloodstream.

Concerns about possible infection should not be overlooked by a diabetic who plans to wear an insulin pump. The diabetic might want to discuss such concerns with his or her doctor. Still the diabetic should understand that a number of other medical conditions are now controlled by implantable devices. Medicine has improved its ability to handle infections that can develop whenever bacteria enter such devices.

Children with a diabetic pump should enjoy the fact that the pump has such a long thread. The length of that thread takes into account the fact that children will grow. A child with an insulin pump does not need to undergo any type of medical procedure, in order to re-adjust the length of thread in that pump.

A child does need to receive training. Such training usually takes place in a hospital or clinic environment. The child needs to understand that completion of such training will ensure him or her of a greater amount of freedom. Such assurances should prepare a child for the time that he or she must devote to learning how to use an insulin pump.

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Christopher Berry
Diabetic Discussion

Hi! I wear a pump it is called the Paradigm . It never beeps or an alarm doesn't go off if my sugar goes low or high.I was never taughtthat in my training. Are all pumps equiped that way? Should I speak with my trainer about this? Thanks, Linda.

I wear an insulin pump and the alarm does not go off if my sugar runs low or high, and I was never taught about an alarm. Please let me know if any one else wears aParadigm pump and their alarm goes off if they are to high or to low. Thanks, linda

I have an Accu-chek spirit pump. It works well but doesn't do what I wanted it to when i chose it. I was fortunate that my insurance at the time paid for it but the new insurance has a limit and I don't know what they'd cover.
I wouldn't ever want to be without my pump. It has made my life so much easier and better and healthier. I've been using a pump for 7 1/2 years now and I hope I will use one until my dying day.

Faith, I hope that one day, with a great breakthrough in diabetes, that you and all of us won't need to bother with unbalanced blood sugars. I hope for a cure for all of us well before your dying day.

But thank you for all the information about the pump. When my blood sugars were uncontrolled I was too afraid to even think of getting a pump. Your great information did a lot to calm me down about it. If my bloodsugars ever go haywire and I need insulin again, I will definitely get a pump.

Thanks for the information!

skatss, I hope that happens too but I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it. I just do what I have to every day and try to keep my blood sugars in the range as much as possible.

I do know a lot of type 2's are on pumps now.