Diabetes: The Insulin Pump

Insulin pumps are small, computerized devices (about the size of a pager) that you wear on your belt or put in your pocket that allow for a continuous flow of a rapid-acting insulin to be released into your tissue. The pumps have a small flexible tube (called a catheter) with a fine needle on the end, which is inserted under the skin of your abdomen and taped in place.

The insulin pump is designed to deliver a continuous amount of insulin, 24 hours a day according to a programmed plan unique to each pump wearer. The amount of insulin delivered can be changed by the user.

Between meals and overnights, a small amount of insulin is constantly delivered to keep the blood sugar in the target range. This is called the basal rate. When food is eaten, a bolus dose of insulin can be programmed into the pump. You can measure how much of a bolus you need using calculations based on the grams of carbohydrates consumed.

When using an insulin pump, you must monitor your blood glucose level at least four times a day. You set the doses of your insulin and make adjustments to the dose depending on your food intake and exercise program.

Why Use an Insulin Pump?

Some health care providers prefer the insulin pump because its slow release of insulin mimics how a normally working pancreas would release insulin. Studies vary on whether the pump provides better blood glucose control than multiple daily injections.

Another advantage of the insulin pump is that it frees you from having to measure insulin into a syringe.

Reviewed by Certified Diabetes Educators in the Department of Patient Education and Health Information and by physicians in the Department of Endocrinology at The Cleveland Clinic.