Wearing your insulin pump

Wearing your insulin pump can take a bit of getting used to at first, however, there are a few things that you should know to help get you started.

Firstly, it can take some time to work out the best place to put it. The pump can be attached to any belt, waistband, or just carried in your pocket. You must however make sure it is secure, so it is not likely to fall out your pocket. There are a number of different cases and belts available to keep your pump safe and secure. 

Remember: you need to wear the pump most of the time. You can ‘come off’ your pump for short periods. This is usually no longer than an hour at a time. If you need to remove the pump for longer periods, you will need to speak to your diabetes team.

When you come off your pump, you will need to disconnect at your cannula site. This is quite easy to do and you will be shown how to do this. You can leave your pump running after it has been disconnected. Place it in a clean Tupperware box or something similar, lined with kitchen paper. Always put your pump in a safe place, where possible lock it away. Your insulin will automatically begin infusing once you have reconnected.

For most activities, where the pump is off for less than an hour, it is not necessary to make any adjustments to your insulin dose. If, however, it is longer than an hour, you may have to give a correctional bolus. Discuss this with your diabetes team.