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Medical Mile News
Written by Brad Orsted   
Wednesday, 23 September 2009 10:20

New Trends In Diabetic Care

Insulin_pump_and_infusion_setAs the parent of a child with diabetes, I can tell you first hand how one of the newest medical products -- the insulin pump -- has revolutionized diabetes care and changed our lives.

Gone are the days of painful, multiple injections and guessing how much insulin she will need at night to keep her regulated.  It’s hard enough to give your own child injections, and with the invention of the insulin pump neither the school nurse, a friend’s parent, nor we ourselves should ever need to do so.


Insulin pumps are a computerized device approximately the size of a cell phone.  They can be clipped on a belt or worn in a pouch.  The pump holds a reservoir containing enough insulin to last for several days.  Here’s how it works.

 


A thin tube is attached to the reservoir, which is placed in the pump and works just like a syringe with a plunger system.  The opposite end of the tube contains a small needle surrounded by an adhesive patch called the cannula.  The cannula is inserted thru the skin into fatty tissue, usually on the rump or an oblique area of the stomach.  Some cannulas offer a system where the needle is removed and only a soft, plastic catheter is left in place. 

The insulin pump must then be programmed to deliver basal insulin, or the amount of insulin released throughout the day.  Also, when the wearer eats or drinks they need to count carbohydrates and enter the corresponding number into the pump.  This tells the pump to release the correct amount of insulin into the body so it can properly process the food and drink.  This is called the ‘bolus’ number. 

While the insulin pump is certainly no mind reader, if used correctly, it allows diabetics much more freedom and less frequent, painful injections.  The tubing can be disconnected for up to 2 hours allowing the wearer to bathe, swim or be free from the pump. 

Insulin pumps mimic the pancreas and have made a tremendous difference in their users' lives.  I personally know one little girl who is very thankful to its creators.

©Medical Mile LLC

 

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Pumped Up!
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
New Trends In Diabetic Care As the parent of a child with diabetes, I can tell you first hand how one of the newest medical products -- the insulin...

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