Is a wireless pump right for me?

You are going to be living with your chosen insulin pump for an average of 4 years so you need to think about what features are most important to you and what is going to be a good fit for you and your lifestyle.

Some things you might want to think about are:

• Availability: If you are getting your pump through the NHS then you will need to speak to your healthcare team about what pumps are available as patch pumps availability can vary.

• Cost: If you are buying a pump independently then think about the general running costs of a patch pump and how much you are going to be spending on it per month compared to a standard insulin pump.

• Features: What features are really important to you? Is it blood glucose integration, a bolus calculator to help with carb counting, a pump that is fairly simple to operate or do you want to be able to deliver bolus doses on the main pump unit rather than a remote handset? Writing a list of your must-have features can narrow down the choices and help with making sure you get the right insulin pump for you.

• Design: Do your research and think about what is going to work for you. Is the idea of applying a patch pump with no wires more appealing? Or would you prefer having an infusion set where you can control your settings rather than a remote unit?

In the end, it comes down to personal preference as what appeals to one person may not be the same as what appeals to someone else. Speak to your healthcare team so they can discuss with you about the pump that will work best for you and what options are available.