Pros | Minuses | Who is it recommended for
Pros
- Less injections.
- More stable glucose level, less hypoglycemia, less pronounced fluctuations in glucose level, lower than HbA1C value.
- The ability to lead a normal daily life (be active, engage in any sport at a convenient time for you).
- The ability to administer small doses of insulin.
- The ability to adjust the dose of basal insulin depending on the situation, the ability to change the dose of basal insulin if necessary (function of the temporary basal regimen).
- Convenience of insulin administration.
- Help with insulin dose calculation (bolus calculator).
- The ability to transfer information from the pump to the computer, sending this report in a convenient format to the attending physician / relatives.
Minuses
There is a high risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis when insulin is discontinued for various reasons, since the pump uses ultra-short insulin and does not create an insulin depot in the subcutaneous fat.
- The cost of consumables.
- Pump control requires meticulous training; you have to make many decisions every day.
- The pump can be a constant reminder of your diabetes, visible to other people.
- The possibility of developing an infection at the place of installation of the infusion system if non-compliance with aseptic rules (clean hands, handling the injection site with disinfectants is a prerequisite!)
- The need to continue frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose levels.
Who is it recommended for
If you have any of the listed factors, then you can think about pump insulin therapy:
- insufficiently successful glucose control;
- frequent hypoglycemia;
- asymptomatic hypoglycemia; nocturnal hypoglycemia;
- significant fluctuations in blood glucose during the day;
- Morning Dawn Syndrome (an increase in glucose in the early morning hours);
- high sensitivity to insulin;
- Frequent travel or shift work;
- intense sports;
- pregnancy planning and pregnancy;
- adolescence;
- the presence of gastroparesis (a digestive disorder characterized by a decrease in the activity of the muscular apparatus of the stomach).