how does the insulin pump work and how to plant it? is it the best med. device for balancing blood sugar?

Question

I'm 29 years old and I have (insulin-dependant) diabetes since 1991, I want to know what is the best medical device I can use for keeping the blood sugar at normal controled levels, how much does it cost? how to use and how sufficient it is?
I don't want to go through all long term side effects of diabetes
thanks in advance

Answer 1

The second answer is the best.... I recently went on the insulin pump myself. My A1-C levels were around 8.0 before the pump. I was on 4 shots a day. After the pump my A1-C level dropped to 6.4 the lowest it's ever been in my 26 years of being a diabetic. You will still need to keep track of your blood sugars as well as still watch what you eat, however, it does give you a lot more flexablilty. As far as cost... check with your insurance. Also check to see if you can do mail order, as it is usually cheaper. The artificial pancreas that was mentioned... that is an insulin pump with another device that is inserted as well that monitors your blood sugar on a 24 hour basis.

Answer 2

Pump is pager size computer that has a reservoir of insulin in it. the computer has a motor which delivers insulin at a preset rate, the basal rate (set by you/your doc). This rate can fluctuate throughout the day, so you have better control with the pump than you do with shots. When you eat/have high sugar, you program the pump to give more insulin, a bolus. Because you have this with you at all times, you can eat when you want, not at all, etc. (within practical limits, of course.)
The infusion set consists of tubing which is very strong so you need not worry about tearing it. A small introducer needle has a cannula (small tube) around it. When you stick the needle into the skin, the cannuka goes with it. Pull out the needle, and all that's left is the cannula. This gets changed every 2-3 days. There are a wide variety of types and sizes of sets, but the idea is the same for all of them.

I wear a minimed paradigm 515, highly recommend it. about $5000 for the pump itself, $1500-$2000 a year for supplies. Definitely need insurance to cover durable medical equipment to afford it.

Pump is absolutely the best way to manage blood sugars if a person can afford it.

Answer 3

An insulin pump is a pager size device that holds 200-300 units of insulin in a reservoir. The reservoir leads to tubing, that in turn leads to an infusion set. The infusion set is inserted with a needle every three days.

The pump runs a basal all the time- a set amount is delivered every few minutes, so long acting insulin isn't used. This basal amount is based on time of day and activity level.

When food is consumed or blood sugar is high a bolus of insulin is programmed, based on grams of carbs and current blood sugar. This is basically a larger amount of insulin given all at once.

This basal/bolus type regimine is best for control and allows flexibility.

The initial cost is around $6000. Supplies runs about $500 per month, at least for me. This includes a month supply of sets (about 15 for me) at $12 each ($180), cartridges at around $50 for a month, insulin at around $100 for a month, and for me IV Prep at $20 and IV3000 at $75. Some people don't use the last two things.

Answer 4

I went on an insulin pump at age 29 and wonder now why I didn't do it sooner...The second answer gives you the details of how it works, so I'll tell you what it's like to live with it. Before using the pump, my a1c was at 12.3%....after about 6 months it was at 7%. 2 years later I am at 5.8%. It is a miracle device and I have spent the last 24 years (since I was 7) trying to get my sugars to the levels my pump did in 6 months. I was skeptical about going on a pump, because I was worried about people noticing it and thinking I look like a freak. Well, it's rare people notice it (I clip it to my belt or wear it attached to my bra) and when they do notice and ask what it is, I just tell them I'm diabetic, it's an insulin pump, and it keeps me from having to take shots all the time (I was up to 6 a day before the pump). Most people thank me for the information and I feel better enlightening them. I was also wary about having a "needle" in me at all times, but it's not that way at all. Initially, you insert the canulla (plastic tube) under the skin with a needle, but it is then immediately removed...similar to an IV, but much smaller. The tubing attached to the infusion set (a small button-like patch attached to the skin on your tummy) is very thin and flexible so it doesn't hinder movement in any way. The cannula underneath the skin, also flexes so it is not uncomfortable at all; I forget it's there. The only time I have ever been inconvenienced by my pump is while being in a formal dress because I had nowhere to clip it...being male, you wouldn't have that problem. Not one day has gone by that I've regretted going on a pump. Before the pump, I was on medical disability, couldn't walk more than 30 or 40 steps without excruciating pain in my legs (from neuropathy), and had developed retinopathy, all before age 30! Now, I'm working full-time (in a day-care center), recently walked in the JDRF Walk For the Cure (5k), and have had to get new glasses because my vision has gotten better. I never would have had any of those complications had I gone on the pump years earlier. The cost is different for everyone, so check with your insurance company to see what they cover....most cover the majority of the supplies you need and a good portion, if not all, of the cost of the actual pump. I paid $600 for the pump itself and now pay $15 a month for the supplies...not counting the insulin. Good luck to you.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

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Answer 7

an insulin pump is basically a small syringe with a computer. the insulin is pushed by the pump trough a butterfly device under the skin. the butterfly device has a very fine and short needle that goes in a 30 degree angle under your skin ( were you normally inject the insulin) ( belly, upper leg). the needle can stay under the skin for several days and is covered with some waterproof band aid. the computer in the pump is also protected from overdosing yourself. I think one full tank equals 100 IU of insulin.
the device can be as small as a pager. Unfortunately I don't know the price range, sorry.

Answer 8

The best device to manage your sugars are nothing that you need to acquire..Pump or not you are the only person who can tighten your numbers by suggesting and asking with your doctor when an insulin your using becomes in-affective. The pimp is nice small and does make life easier but it doesn't give all the answers. In fact you may not be able to get it unless your under tight control for a few months on shots. But you still should watch what you eat and understand your body and how it reacts to foods. Anyways its a nice alternative but not all the answers when it comes to your numbers that all depends on you..

Answer 9

I am on an Animas pump. What the second person said about the pump is correct, except that the cost for them every month (for the cartridges, inserts, and batteries) is about $100 a month--NOT $500. Many insurances will cover the cost of the pump, or at least most of it. If you can't afford whatever insurance doesn't pay, then you may qualify for financial assistance thru the pump company of your choosing (Animas does this as I just had to do it for a new pump). The warranties on pumps lasts for about 4 years, so once you get one, you have it until the warranty runs out, then you can get an upgraded one/new one (that is what I am dong now).

As for the control of the blood sugars that the pump has, it is awesome. Since it pumps insulin into you 24/7, it is like your pancreas doing the work. You just have to check your blood sugar often, take enough insulin to cover what you eat (going by carbs) and high blood sugars. You learn in a one day training how to do all of this, when to do it, etc.

When I first started using a pump over 4 years ago, my HA1c level was about 10 or 11%. I got it down to 6% or below from being on the pump! With the pump, you have lots more freedom with foods and schedules (you can even sleep in because you don't have to worry about waking up at a certain time to have a shot), you can live your life according to your life, not according to when you need a shot, and you only have one needle prick for the insulin delivery every 3 days instead of shots every day.

It does take about a month for your body to adjust to being on the pump, the constant stream of insulin going thru your body, etc. But, once your body adjusts, it is awesome!

As for what kind of pump to use, check with your health insurance to see what kind they will pay for. If they pay for a pump, it will be under Durable Medical Supplies, and the same goes for the pump supplies itself. My insurance will pay for 80% of my new pump (original price is $5500) and since I got financial assistance for the remaining balance, I don't have to pay anything. :)

I would personally recommend a pump to anyone who is using insulin. It gives awesome control without the ups and downs, peaks and valleys associated with having shots. Instead, you get a steady stream of insulin 24/7 for the control needed. This in turn can reverse some complications caused by diabetes, and the awesome control can help to prevent complications. Remember this: when you have diabetes, you age 10 years. Also, whatever you do today with your diabetes will affect you exactly one year from now. So, if your blood sugars are high today, it will affect you one year from today. If they are normal, it will affect you in a good way.

Animas has an awesome pump called the IR1250. It keeps a list of 500 foods on it so you can choose what you ate for that meal and it will tell you how much insulin you need to bolus to cover it. It also has many other features, but that is the main one I like. If you want to know more about the pump, go to www.animascorp.com.

Answer 10

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