Diabetes Treatment
Insulin Pump Ratings
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.