subject: Using Insulin Infusion Pump for Diabetes [print this page] A major advancement in diabetes therapy is insulin infusion pump. A device with a size of about a pager and is worn outside the body, which pumps the needed amount of insulin in a reinforced insertion into the body through a tube and a needle. This tube and needle need to be change after every two or three days. Insulin pumps can also be used to infuse extra spurt of insulin (bolus), into the body to balance the risen blood sugar level after eating. No matter you use pump or not, it is important to have a closer look on your blood sugar and adjust your insulin medication accordingly.
Insulin infusion pump is a very useful device, which provides insulin in a proper amount along with bolus to compensate the rise in blood sugar after eating. Many people feel far more comfortable with these pumps rather they did on injections.
Things to Consider While Using Insulin Infusion Pump
Although, insulin pump is very helpful to those who are responsible and serious towards their diabetes, still there are few things that one should keep in mind regarding insulin pumps.
1- Unlike individual insulin injection, these pumps are more complex and complicated to understand. With these pumps you need to check your blood sugar more often, that is, five to six times a day.
2- With insulin pump if you don't keep a proper check of your blood sugar, you are at a greater risk of developing hypoglycemia as it is a continuous infusion.
3- Most of the people have developed this misconception with the pump that they think being an automatic pump, it will cover up each and everything they will eat. You have to stick to your diet plan and keep going with physical activities as usual.
4- Measuring doses, adjusting the need for a bolus to food intake and many other things can be taken by insulin infusion pump.
5- Insulin infusion pumps are expensive and everyone may not be able to have it unless you have to go through a great effort of writing letter, persuading and intimidating your health insurance company to pay for this pump. Same goes for Medicare as they are even tougher than insurance companies. It is usually costs up to $5000.
6- It is not always possible to use the pump without having any problem. Unlike injections which don't require any effort to maintain them, pumps are more hard to maintain as sometimes the tube clogged or twisted, the needle may fall out, the leakage of insulin from sides, the battery runs down or your pump may stop working suddenly like any other electronic equipment. These are all the factors which one needs to keep in mind while using insulin infusion pumps, so that you can maintain them well and make it certain that every time you need a pump, it will be in best working conditions.
Drawbacks and complexities are always there with such devices, but on a long run they are really helpful to control diabetes in a safer and quicker way. Once you become used to it, it will be a great asset for you being a diabetic.
