To maintain healthy blood sugar levels, people with diabetes need to monitor their blood sugar levels frequently. For example, an insulin pump is a device worn underneath the patient’s clothing that continuously injects a steady dose of the right amount of insulin into the patient’s body.
An insulin pump can help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels more effectively and safely than they could on their own.
How Does an Insulin Pump Help with Diabetes?
An insulin pump is a device that continuously pumps a small amount of insulin through a thin tube into the body, just like a small intravenous (IV) pump would. The most common insulin pumps used by patients with diabetes are the Medtronic Guardian Infusion System, Omnipod XS, and the Tandem Diabetes Comfort Systems.
The insulin pump can be programmed to deliver a specific amount of insulin, which helps prevent hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, a significant health concern for people with diabetes. Insulin pumps have been used for decades, but they have become increasingly popular.
The main reason for the surge in insulin pump adoption is that they can help to reduce the amount of time it takes to achieve stable blood sugar levels.
How Does an Insulin Pump Work?
An insulin pump works like a continuous infusion pump when it delivers insulin. The insulin pump draws insulin from a nearby reservoir and delivers it through a long, thin catheter. The insulin in the reservoir at any given time is determined by the individual’s insulin pump’s programming.
The insulin pump’s programming determines how often insulin is delivered, how much is delivered, and how long it is delivered. The insulin pump’s programming also controls how often the reservoir is refilled and how much insulin the reservoir contains. This can be especially helpful for people with Type 1 diabetes because it can prevent the hazardous condition of hypoglycemia.
The Benefits of Using an Insulin Pump
- Better Diabetes Management
Insulin pumps can help with diabetes self-management by keeping track of diabetes diets, blood sugar levels, and glucose control better than a person can. They can also help you get the right amount of insulin in the right place at the right time. This can help with weight management, insulin sensitivity, and overall health and wellness.
- Reduced Health Risks
This can be due to better diabetes management or because you are no longer injecting insulin. Insulin pumps can help protect against heart dysfunction, neuropathy, nerve damage, and kidney disease.
- Less Stress
Insulin pumps reduce the amount of stress associated with diabetes by taking a lot of the guesswork out of managing your blood sugar levels. They are very reliable and will deliver the correct amount of insulin every time so that you don’t have to worry about adjusting your dosage or skipping a dose.
- Long-Term Diabetes Care
For your diabetes management plan to be successful, you must stay on top of your blood sugar levels and regularly give yourself insulin injections. With an insulin pump, you only need to perform the implantation and device replacement surgery. However, you won’t have to deal with associated pain and complications with daily insulin injections.
An insulin pump is an excellent tool for people with diabetes who want better diabetes management and protection against symptoms of diabetes in children. You will need to consider your needs, preferences, and budget to determine if an insulin pump is right.
