Frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the topic of insulin pump therapy
Does the insulin pump regulate the blood sugar automatically?No, the insulin pump is not a "closed system", which automatically dispenses insulin by itself. Such a system currently does not exist. An insulin pump only automatically dispenses the basic insulin requirement (basal rate), i.e., the amount that has been programmed into it. The bolus at mealtimes must be input manually in accordance with the measured blood sugar value. The insulin pump does not relieve the user of the responsibility of dealing with controlling his/her diabetes.
Is it still necessary to check blood sugar?It is an absolute precondition for insulin pump therapy. You should check your blood sugar at least four times a day.
Is it true that the risk of hyperglycemia is greater with insulin pump therapy?Because only short-acting insulin is in the body, an interruption of the insulin supply, e.g., due to a needle that has come out or a leak in the system, produces a relatively rapid increase in the blood sugar level. As a result, regular blood sugar self-monitoring plays a very important role in insulin pump therapy. You’ll learn what you yourself can do to avoid ketoacidosis, and how you should react in case of emergency in the course of a training session. And the fact that you will learn these rules in such detail during training is precisely the reason why the actual rate of hyperglycemia in corresponding investigations of pump users is lower than with patients using ICT. Do you have questions on this topic? Accu-Chek/Disetronic will be happy to answer them. Please contact us
|
|
|
|
|
Last modified: 15/08/2008