Insulin Pump—How Does It Work?
Insulin pumps are used to deliver insulin through a small tube inserted under the abdominal area’s skin. A small computer chip that stores information about your insulin pump is implanted in your body, which allows you to control how much insulin you receive by pressing buttons on the pump itself or using a remote control device.
Using an insulin pump allows you to more easily manage your diabetes because it provides constant access to insulin without injecting yourself with needles several times per day. In this article, you’ll learn how an insulin pump works and its benefits for people with diabetes.
How does it work?
An insulin pump is a small device that delivers insulin through tubing to the skin. It can be used in conjunction with a vial of basal (background) insulin, or it can replace basal delivery entirely. The pump works by continuously monitoring your blood sugar levels and delivering short-acting insulin when necessary to keep them within your target range. After you receive an injection from the pump, it keeps working for 24 hours before you need another one. There are many other insulin pump supplies easily available online.
If you have type 1 diabetes, there are two ways to use an insulin pump: as a standalone device or in conjunction with multiple daily injections (MDIs). If you’re using an MDI method, the pump will deliver your bolus doses on schedule—but if you’re using a standalone method instead, the pump will only deliver boluses as needed throughout the day and night.
Can you use an insulin pump with other diabetes medicines?
When you are using an insulin pump, you can also take other diabetes medicines.
For example, take metformin or sulfonylurea (like glyburide or glipizide). Your doctor may suggest a lower dose of these medicines when they are used with an insulin pump. This is because the amount of insulin delivered by the pump will make your body more sensitive to these medicines and lower doses may be needed.
To avoid low blood glucose levels, it’s very important to tell your health team if you plan to change or stop taking any medications—including over-the-counter products like aspirin and cold medicine that contain acetaminophen (Tylenol).
“Pump is an integral part of your life, that’s why Tandem Diabetes offers accessories to match your needs.”
What are the benefits of using an insulin pump?
Insulin pumps are considered a type of insulin delivery system. They use a small battery-operated pump, which is attached to the body via tubing, to deliver fast-acting or short-acting insulin 24 hours a day. Insulin pumps may be an option for those who have type 1 diabetes and want more flexibility in their daily life and require greater control over their blood sugar levels.
The main benefit of using an insulin pump is that it allows you to program your insulin dosage according to your needs throughout the day. In addition, most pumps allow you to program them so they provide additional doses of medication when needed (for example, if your blood glucose levels are higher than expected). You can also program them so they give less medication at times when it’s not necessary.
As you can see, insulin pumps are an effective and convenient way to manage your diabetes. Unfortunately, they’re not the right choice for everyone, so make sure that you do some research before deciding whether or not an insulin pump is right for you—but if it is, consider all the benefits this technology offers!
