What Exactly Is the Diabetes Pump?

A diabetes pump is used by diabetics, and there is a very strong chance that you or someone you know has been diagnosed and is currently suffering from diabetes. This is a very serious condition and one that is a lot more common than you might be tempted to believe. One piece of good news comes from the fact that technology did evolve and we now have access to different ways in which the condition can be controlled. One of those is the diabetes pump, which is also known as insulin pump due to its main action: delivering insulin to the human body.

A diabetes pump delivers insulin into the body of diabetics

Adults will usually suffer from type 2 diabetes while type 1 diabetes is common in teenagers. Diabetes is basically a condition in which we have problems with insulin. The body will either not produce enough quantities or will destroy the cells that naturally produce the hormone. The importance of insulin is high because it will help in the transformation of glucose to energy.

In the past, when diabetes pumps did not exist, the doctors would recommend how much insulin you need to take and how often the injections have to be done. The problem was that everything was more of a guess based on the feeling of the patient after and before eating. Test strips were used in order to monitor blood sugar levels. As time passed we saw the introduction of glucose meters. This is important when talking about the diabetes pump as it is most likely the test that you have to perform before you actually decide to take insulin or not. Glucose meters are basically portable blood testing units that will monitor blood sugar levels. The blood is taken by simply pricking your finger.

The most current possible treatment that we now have access to is offered by the diabetes pump. We are basically talking about a device that looks very much like a simple deck of cards. The diabetes pump will deliver the needed insulin quantity to the person suffering from diabetes. You can attach this diabetes pump to your belt or alternatively carry it with you in a pocket. It is attached to a plastic tube, which includes a catheter needle. This is what will be placed right under your skin. 
Delivery of insulin by using a diabetes pump

Insulin can be released into the human body in 2 different ways. The first one is at a basal rate. This basically means that we will have a constant insulin trickle being delivered at every point of the day. The second method is through bolus doses that are going to be released when you notice increased blood sugar levels. You should also know a little about the actual device. It includes a special reservoir that will hold the insulin. This reservoir is named "diabetes pump cartridge". The size will vary based on how much insulin is needed on a daily basis. It will usually hold anywhere from 170 units to 300 units. You need to mainly think about the number of units that you need when choosing the correct cartridge size.

We can say that there are many benefits and disadvantages of using a diabetes pump. However, the benefits that are noticed are far more important than the disadvantages. You will no longer be faced with a high possibility of needing insulin injections on a daily basis and you will be able to live a much better life. The only real problem is that you might find them to be quite expensive and not everyone will be able to afford a diabetes pump. In addition, you might end up gaining weight and there is also the discomfort that you have to get used to as you are basically walking around with a needle stuck to you at all times.