Insulin Pumps And Diabetes - Busting The Myths

Insulin pumps are being increasingly used to help people taking insulin to manage their diabetes more successfully. But there are still many myths that surround pumps. This article will help to unravel some of the myths that exist in relation to insulin pump use in diabetes.

Myth: If someone uses an insulin pump, they are more likely to develop ketoacidosis.

Truth: Ketoacidosis is a condition that occurs when someone has very little insulin in their body, so instead of burning carbohydrates to get their energy, large quantities of sugar build up in their blood. At the same time, they burn fat and muscle for energy, which produces ketones. This is an abnormal process which causes destabilisation of normal body function, and can result in extreme illness. It is true that a lack of insulin will cause ketoacidosis, but it is not true that using an insulin pump increases this risk. As long as the pump is used properly, the risk of ketoacidosis can actually be decreased, and using a pump can help people who regularly suffer from ketoacidosis to control their diabetes more easily and spend less time in hospital. Regular blood testing, changing insulin doses in response to blood glucose readings, regular changing of the site of the infusion and responding to any pump alarms are some examples of how ketoacidosis can be avoided.

Myth: An insulin pump will take the hard work out of managing diabetes.

Truth: An insulin pump should not be seen as an easy option - although once it is mastered, it can make life easier! Insulin pumps do not self-regulate (although some have some automatic emergency functions), and all insulin doses have to be worked out and programmed in to the pump - the pump is simply the machine that is doing what it is told. So it can be extremely hard work at times, particularly in the learning stage, when a huge number of blood tests and insulin dose adjustments can be needed to get diabetes under control. The positive side is that it is a more sophisticated tool that can deliver insulin in tiny doses as and when it is needed, and with hard work, life can get easier. People who have had an insulin pump for years will rarely describe it as hard work, as the time they put into managing their pump means that their blood glucose is much steadier and life as a whole is easier.

Myth: The pump might give insulin during the night and cause a hypo.

Truth: Insulin pumps nowadays, unlike their predecessors in the 1980's, have so many built-in safety features, including keylocks to stop insulin being given accidentally. Also, to give a dose of insulin, a sequence of button-pressing is required, rather than a single press. Some pump users keep their pumps in pyjama pockets or under their pillow at night, but others simply leave the pump in bed with them, and it follows them as they move or turn over during the night, and they don't experience any problems with accidental doses of insulin.

Myth: Wearing a pump will draw attention to someone's diabetes.

Truth: Pumps can be worn in many different ways, for example under clothing, on belts, on straps around the arm or leg, or in a pocket. They don't have to be visible to others, and many of them now have remote controls, so a dose of insulin can be given much more discreetly than giving an injection. Also even if the pump is able to be seen by others, because people are so used to seeing mobile phones and other electronic gadgets, the pump probably won't even attract attention.

Myth: The pump has to be attached 24/7, with no time off.

Truth: It is true that the pump gives a continuous supply of insulin and is designed to be always work, but it is perfectly safe to take an insulin pump off for short periods of time. An hour is reasonable, and 2 hours is probably the maximum time to be disconnected from the pump, because longer than that would make it much more difficult to get the blood glucose level back under control. The pump can be taken off for showering or swimming, or for other activities where it might be less safe to wear it. It can always be reconnected at intervals to give insulin doses - for example at half time during a rugby match. It's all a question of working out how you can ensure you have enough insulin for your needs.

Myth: The tubing might catch on something and pull the cannula out.

Truth: This is a common worry. The tubing from the pump to the cannula does need to be kept tucked away, but if it did get caught (for example on a door handle), the cannula will probably stay in place - it is securely taped down, and is kept in place for 2-3 days, and it can be quite difficult to untape when it is time to remove it! But for safety's sake, a spare cannula should always be carried, so that if the cannula did get pulled out, a new one can be easily inserted and life can carry on.

More about pump myths
There are many more pump myths that are out there, but there are answers to all of them, on websites, in books and ebooks.

Jill Rodgers, Business Director, Successful Diabetes

By: Jill Rodgers

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Jill Rodgers is the Business Director of Successful Diabetes, www.successfuldiabetes.com a company run by experienced former Diabetes Specialist Nurses. Jill has written the first UK insulin pump book, and has also developed a series of insulin pump ebooks to help people who want to learn more.