Insulin pump

A Insulin pump is a small device that continuously supplies the body with insulin via a plastic tube and a cannula.

With some models, diabetes patients can check their glucose levels at any time, while the pump takes over the tasks of a healthy pancreas. However, using an insulin pump is not easy for beginners and requires extensive training. The pump does not stop automatically, so there is a danger if a patient fails to notice hypoglycaemia and passes out.

What is the insulin pump?

An insulin pump supplies people with diabetes with insulin. The device is roughly the size of a cell phone and can be attached to a belt, bra or other item of clothing with a clip.

This device is particularly suitable for type 1 diabetics. However, type 2 diabetics can also get the insulin pump if other therapy methods have failed. The body's basal requirements are covered throughout the day by the insulin released. At the push of a button, the patient can add any additional insulin he needs to his body. The catheter, which pumps the insulin into the subcutaneous fat, usually needs to be replaced about every two days.

The adaptation of an insulin pump to the respective patient takes place on an inpatient or outpatient basis in a hospital or a specialist diabetology practice. There the operation, the use and how to deal with any malfunctions are given extensive training. At least six months of experience with ICT insulin therapy and an HbA1c value below 10% are prerequisites for meaningful therapy with an insulin pump.

Function, effect & goals

All insulin pumps are used with fast-acting regular or analog insulin. A narrow plastic catheter delivers insulin into the subcutaneous fatty tissue every few minutes. After a detailed examination, the doctor will determine the amount of insulin that is required.

The pump can be programmed to deliver a different amount of insulin every hour. In addition, the delivery can be adapted to individual needs at the push of a button. This makes it possible to administer the insulin quite inconspicuously in public. As with conventional ICT insulin therapy, the patient has to regularly measure and actively correct his blood sugar level several times a day.

The different pump models from Germany are all easy to use and very reliable. They have an alarm function that indicates when there is not enough insulin in the cartridge, as well as a comprehensive data memory. In addition, there are different additional functions depending on the model. Various programs can be set that are tailored to different daily routines.

The insulin pump is particularly suitable for type 1 diabetics, as these patients need to be supplied with insulin around the clock. Around a third of small children with diabetes now also have an insulin pump. Overall, the number of those who are treated with an insulin pump is steadily increasing. 10 percent of all people with type 1 diabetes already use this pump.

The main advantages of the insulin pump in contrast to conventional ICT insulin therapy are that the pump constantly delivers small amounts of fast-acting insulin, thus eliminating the need to inject insulin with a pen. Therapy with the insulin pump enables more flexibility and thus a better quality of life. Shift workers, athletes or people with an irregular daily routine benefit from insulin pump therapy in particular.

Because the pumps are only about the size of a cell phone and weigh around 120 grams, they can be easily hidden under clothing. The pump can be attached to the belt, bra or specially made inner pockets on various items of clothing. Conventional insulin pumps and the insulin patch pump are currently available. With the conventional pump, this is worn on the body. A hose and a cannula connect the pump to the body.

The insulin patch pump works without a tube and thus provides more freedom of movement. It consists of a "pod" which is glued to the skin and a "personal diabetes manager" which can be used to control the pod. The goal of research into therapies for diabetics is an artificial pancreas that measures the glucose content in the body independently and accordingly releases insulin to the body.

Risks, side effects & dangers

An insulin pump cannot replace the function of a healthy pancreas and is also not suitable for every type of diabetes. Since the blood sugar level is not determined automatically, the patient is still dependent on checking his values ​​at least four times a day. In addition, the diabetic must be thoroughly familiar with the operation and functions of the insulin pump.

If the device does not work correctly in the meantime due to a blockage or incorrect information, the insulin pump wearer must be able to switch to conventional ICT insulin therapy. Since the insulin pump is constantly delivering small amounts of insulin to the body, it can be dangerous if the patient passes out because of hypoglycaemia, as the added insulin intensifies this hypoglycemia.

Furthermore, some patients are dissatisfied with the fact that this pump shows them their illness. Since this 24 hours is attached to the body with a tube, they feel less attractive. In addition, the wearer of the insulin pump has to deal with the complicated handling and be motivated to learn how to use this technology, as he is heavily dependent on this technology.