It’s estimated that nearly 10% of the population of the United States has diabetes, both Type 1 and Type 2. Managing diabetes effectively via blood measurement and injections can be time consuming and challenging; low blood sugar can be dangerous in the moment and high blood sugar will cause damage over time. For injectable insulin users, insulin pump therapy can limit the glucose roller coaster effect.
What is insulin pump therapy?
For an insulin-dependent diabetic, an insulin pump delivers a slow dose over time, cutting down the risk of a rapid blood sugar drop. There are also insulin pump technologies that test blood sugar levels and can suspend insulin delivery when sugars drop below a healthy level.
Over the long term, an insulin pump can also lower the damage done by high and low glucose levels. A person with low glucose can be at risk of falling unconscious at a dangerous time or losing their ability to communicate effectively. High glucose levels cause long-term physical damage to the eyes, extremities and cleansing organs such as the kidneys and liver.
Who would need insulin pump therapy?
Any insulin dependent diabetic could benefit from this therapy. The goal of insulin therapy is to provide a steady, regulated dose of insulin to the diabetic in such a way that the person with diabetes can stay in their healthiest glucose target range. Rather than waiting to test prior to a meal or a snack, the insulin pump is constantly checking blood glucose levels and altering the dosage to correct.
Using an insulin pump doesn’t remove the need to check glucose levels, however. All tools can fail, so anyone who has an insulin pump will still need to check their glucose four times a day at the minimum. Of course, eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise is also critical to managing diabetes effectively. A pump is a useful tool, but not a cure.
How it can help
The primary benefit of an insulin pump is that it will reduce the roller coaster effect that some diabetics can suffer. Administering insulin before a meal generally means that blood sugar levels can be maintained with careful attention to diet. However, there are diabetics that are prone to extremely high variabilities. They may not test in time to notice that their blood sugar levels are too high, or they may not sense when their sugars are too low until their levels have dropped to a dangerously low level.
Best health results can be maintained with a focus on the ideal glucose range, and pumps are ideal for keeping blood sugar levels in this range. Because the delivery of insulin is slow and constant, there is little risk of a dangerous drop and no need for a big intake of food to raise levels quickly.
Keeping your glucose in the ideal range is also critical to productivity and brain health. Low blood sugar levels can be corrected with food, but it’s exhausting to try to keep going even after your blood sugar levels come back. For a happy life full of activities you love, keeping your blood sugar constant is critically important.
Benefits
Studying up on insulin pumps and the best way to monitor and use them will take time. If you’re not good about checking your blood sugar, be aware that an insulin pump isn’t a replacement for smart diabetes care.
You will still need to check your blood sugar multiple times a day. You’ll also need to check in with your pump when you’re
- sick
- stressed
- unable to get to food
While your pump will be set up to monitor your glucose levels automatically, the stomach flu can make it hard to take in calories. Being under a lot of schedule pressure can have a big impact on your glucose levels and your appetite. Finally, if you’re in a place where you’re not going to be able to get a scheduled snack, your pump can help by lowering or suspending your dosage.
An insulin pump can greatly simplify the life of a diabetic. However, they are not a new pancreas. You will still need to monitor your condition and confirm the pump is still working properly.
