Who is insulin pump therapy for?

Insulin pump therapy is more suited to some people than others. There are a number of reasons that you might want to consider insulin pump therapy and a number of reasons why insulin pump therapy might not be right for you.

In the video below Mary, a diabetes specialist nurse discusses who an insulin pump is the right treatment of choice for. 

Reasons to consider pump therapy include:

• If you experience hypoglycaemia unawareness or impaired awareness

• If you feel you would benefit from the added flexibility that an insulin pump can offer

• If you are trying for pregnancy, or during pregnancy to achieve better control of blood glucose levels

• If you experience the Dawn Phenomenon – reasonable blood glucose levels overnight with dramatic rise on wakening 

• If you experience inadequate control of your diabetes despite using a basal-bolus regimen optimally

To be considered for an insulin pump you:

• Need to be able to count your carbohydrate intake accurately

• Need to have attended structured diabetes education

Reasons pump therapy may not be for you:

• If you are unwilling or unable to check blood glucose levels at least 4–6 times per day

• If you are not able to count carbohydrates accurately

• If you are unwilling or unable to maintain contact with your diabetes team

• If you have insufficient vision or hearing to allow recognition of alarms

• If you have type 2 diabetes

• If you are self-conscious about wearing the device

• If you are unable to physically use the pump (e.g. due to arthritis)

• If you are unable to learn how to use the pump technically

• If you have previously had an eating disorder

Insulin pump therapy and pregnancy

Some people decide to switch to insulin pump therapy to improve their blood glucose control prior to and during pregnancy. In the video below Jane, who has type 1 diabetes, discusses her experiences of insulin pump therapy during pregnancy.