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Insulin Pumps
An insulin pump is a combination reservoir
and injection system about the size of a
cellphone that distributes insulin to maintain
blood sugar levels over the course of the
day. The unit typically has a display screen
with programming buttons on the outside and
a computer controlled high-precision pump
on the inside that connect to a small tube
leading into your body. Insulin pumps mimic
the pancreas to provide better control and
greater flexibility than manual injections,
and modern computerized pumps are reliable,
easy to use, and more sophisticated than
previous generations.
Insulin pump therapy with fast-acting insulin
may be a more effective treatment to control
blood sugar levels in children and adolescents
with type 1 diabetes than multiple daily
injections therapy using long-acting insulin.
For children in particular, an insulin pump
can return them to a normal life by restoring
flexibility with what and when they eat,
easing management for exercise and sports,
and removing the embarrassing downtime to
check and regulate blood sugar levels.
Insulin pumps can be a great
way to improve
control, so if you are thinking
about an
insulin pump, consider:
- Size and weight - the smallest units are
mere inches on a side and weigh as little
as two ounces
- Profiles - the number of basal profiles dictate
how many different kinds of days your unit
can handle automatically; if the activities
in your life vary widely from day to day
because of schedule or personal health, you
may want more rather than fewer profiles
- Integrated sensors - to monitor blood sugar
levels more frequently and
accurately than
glucose test strips
- Control options - the number and frequency
of injections at the basal
(base) rate in
contrast to bolus infusion
(a single dose
injected over a short period
of time)
- Companion software - programs that support
the tracking of blood sugar level so you
can find the profile that fits your lifestyle
- Waterproof and shock protection - your unit
goes where you go and may be subject to rough
usage
- Remote control - some units have radio controls
that make setting and viewing the functions
of the pump even easier
- Batteries - the number and type of batteries
the unit requires and their
expected life
in use
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