Insulin Pump Therapy
An insulin pump is a small mechanical device, a little larger than a pager that is worn outside the body, often on a belt or in a pocket. It delivers fast-acting insulin into the body via an infusion set -- a thin plastic tube ending in a small, flexible plastic cannula or a very thin needle. You insert the cannula beneath the skin at the infusion site, usually in your abdomen or upper buttocks. You keep the infusion set in place for two to three days (sometimes more), and then move it to a new location. All insulin is delivered through the infusion set.

The insulin pump is not an artificial pancreas. Rather, it is computer-driven device that delivers fast-acting insulin (NovoLog, Humalog, or Apidra) in precise amounts at pre-programmed times. Wearing an insulin pump might require more work on your part than traditional injection therapy, especially if you are not used to checking your blood sugar several times a day. You must also learn to use the pump to deliver the extra insulin you require when you eat.

The following companies make or sell insulin pumps in the United States:

• Animas
• Medtronic MiniMed
• OmniPod (Insulet)
• Roche
• Tandem

When you consider pump therapy, be sure to contact each company to learn about their product offerings. Insulin pump features vary, and you want to be sure to find the pump that best meets your needs.

The number of people using insulin pump therapy to manage their diabetes is growing rapidly; roughly 500,000 people around the world use an insulin pump. Their reasons for choosing the pump are many, but generally "pumpers" all agree that it gives them tighter control and more flexibility -- both in terms of their schedule and lifestyle. This control and flexibility includes advantages such as:

• Eating what you want, when you want
• Worrying less about low blood sugars ("hypoglycemia")
• Living life on your terms, not a schedule of snacks and shots

There are many scientific studies that demonstrate that insulin pump therapy results in better outcomes for teens and adults with type 1 diabetes. There are also studies that show that insulin pump therapy works well in toddlers and pre-school children. Links to these studies are included in the links page.

For More Information

• The Un-Tethered Regimen
• Lantus, which is used as a basal insulin when untethered
• NovoPen Junior, an excellent device for injecting fast-acting NovoLog when untethered