Diabetes Treatment

An insulin pump is a stubby, battery-operated computerized device which contains a small vial of regular insulin. The pump continuously delivers regular or fast-acting insulin under the skin through tubing called a catheter. The pump automatically delivers insulin at a steady (or basal) rate that is preprogrammed by the pump user. The use of insulin pumps for type 1 diabetes began in the late 1970s. Since that time, continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) by means of an insulin pump has been found to have a number of advantages over multiple daily injections (MDI) of insulin. For more information, read What Is Diabetes All About?

There are some potential disadvantages of pump therapy. You can simply get weary of having something associated with your body all the time. Its cost is another of its disadvantages. Also, because insulin pumps use only regular or fast-acting insulin which only lasts three to four hours after injection, Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a possibility if the pump stops delivering the required amount of insulin. You have to check sugar constantly to prevent it.

Insulin pump therapy can also be extremely efficient in patients with insulin requiring Type 2 diabetes. Current pumps have become smaller, easier and safer to use, and more durable. They have electronic memory, multiple basal rates, several bolus options, a safety lockout feature, and a remote control.

Today, there are more options than ever in insulin pump therapy, with six different companies producing no less than eight different models of insulin pumps between them. While this selection provides an unprecedented number of features and options to any current or potential pump user, it can also present a confusing array of choices when trying to decide on which pump is the right one for you. That is where insulin pump ratings comes in to the picture. You should use insulin pumps approved by the American diabetes association. Information on diabetes, diabetes care and diabetes cure are available over the net. Insulin pump ratings help you choose the best pump.