What Are Insulin Pumps And How Do They Work For Diabetes

What is an insulin pump?

An insulin pump is a small device (about the size of a deck of cards) that is programmed to deliver insulin consistently. You can wear an insulin pump in various places on your body, including clipped to your belt or waistband, tucked in a pocket, bra, or strapped to a pouch on your waist, arm or thigh.

How does an insulin pump work?

An insulin pump is programmed to deliver rapid-acting insulin continuously, which mimics the pancreas’s natural function. It can also be programmed to deliver both basal (background) doses and bolus doses (larger amounts for meals).

Some insulin pumps use tubing to deliver insulin, while others are tubeless and attach directly to the skin. The main components of an insulin pump are:

• Infusion set (for pumps with tubing): The pump connects to the body via an infusion set, which includes a thin plastic tube (called a cannula) inserted under the skin.
• Pods (for tubeless pumps): Tubeless pumps have a pod that is worn directly on the body with adhesive; a remote device controls the pump.
• Basal insulin rate:The pump delivers a continuous, small amount of insulin to maintain background blood sugar levels.
• Bolus doses:Before meals, the user can program the pump to deliver a larger dose of insulin to help control the rise in blood sugar after eating.
• Programming:The pump is programmed to meet the user’s individual needs, including basal rates, bolus amounts and insulin-to-carbohydrate ratios.
• Integration:Some pumps can integrate with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to automatically adjust insulin, as needed, based on real-time blood sugar readings.