5 Disadvantages Of Insulin Pumps And How To Cope With Them

If you're thinking about utilizing an insulin pump, make sure it'll work for you. An insulin pump can help you manage your diabetes. However, there are several difficulties you should be aware of before making a selection.

You can regulate your blood sugar with an insulin pump by altering the quantity of insulin you get. Insulin pumps are tiny, portable devices that inject insulin into the body via a catheter.

They are normally worn on the body and are controlled by a remote control device that is worn on the wrist or fastened to clothes. They might be used by persons with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who need several injections per day but desire less frequent injections than 4-6 times per day can supply (depending on how their body absorbs the bolus).

5 Disadvantages of insulin pumps:

It is huge, hefty, and almost the same weight. It must also be carried in a purse or worn around the waist all day. The pump has a long, narrow set that inserts into the skin and connects to tubing. This can be intrusive and unpleasant. Bleeding or fluid leaking from the injection site is also possible.

• The Insulin pump Set's Insertion

One of the most main disadvantages of insulin pump therapy is the insertion of the set. There are various reasons why this might be an issue:

• Because insulin pumps must be put beneath the skin, they require the use of a needle and some prodding. By no means will this procedure be pleasurable or painless.
• For certain diabetics, it might be difficult, if not impossible (e.g., those with extremely high blood sugars). Because many patients who use insulin pumps are children and teens, this disadvantage is significant because it impacts a substantial portion of the population who may benefit from using an insulin pump but cannot owing to inexperience or lack of expertise necessary for effective insertion into their skin.
• Insertion takes time - typically approximately 10 minutes every week from start to finish - which adds up quickly when you consider how frequently you must do this every day for your body's metabolic systems to work properly!

That's more than a half-hour every week spent on a simple task like injecting oneself with a needle - think all the hours lost just sitting there staring at an IV pole, patiently waiting for things to go as planned (which isn't always guaranteed).

• The Infusion Set

The Infusion Set is the tiny tube that is placed into your skin. It accommodates the needle as well as the reservoir that holds the insulin. The infusion set is tied to your pump, so you can't lose it, and it's reusable.

The infusion site can be changed whenever you wish, but if you need a new one due to swelling or discomfort, try to keep it as near to where your previous one was as possible (i.e., don't relocate it too far away). Before inserting a new infusion site, thoroughly clean it with alcohol wipes—do not try to sterilize with soap or water, as this may irritate your skin even more!

• Costs and insurance for Insulin pumps

The expense of insulin pumps is one of the most major disadvantages. The pump may be rather expensive, and purchasing one without insurance coverage might be challenging.

Infusion sets (the component that connects to your body) and cannulas (the tubes that go into your skin) can also be expensive. Infusion sets are used every night or several times a day for roughly five days before needing to be changed; however, owing to wear and tear from regular usage, they may need to be replaced more frequently than that.

Cannulas are typically worn for about two weeks before being removed so that any germs present does not have time to proliferate in them during prolonged use. If you use these items every day, the cost of these accessories might rapidly mount up!

• Skin Irritation

Skin irritation is a typical adverse effect of using an insulin pump. It can cause discomfort, swelling, redness, burning, and itching. When you use an insulin pump, you are continually placing the needle into your skin to provide your medication.

If you do not clean the injection site correctly or keep it covered with bandages at all times, it might cause skin irritation.

To avoid this problem:

• Always carefully clean the injection site before injecting insulin into it; use alcohol swabs or soap and water to disinfect the region prior to avoid the chance of infection.
• Replace your needle cartridges on a regular basis - once every 10 days for most people.
• Cover any freshly implanted locations with gauze bandages until they completely heal.

• Occlusions and Cannula Malfunctions

Occlusion is a blockage in the passage of insulin from the pump, which might cause your device to pump air into your body. This may be a frightening experience, especially if it occurs while you are sleeping or if you do not detect it straight away.

Occlusions can be induced by a variety of factors, including:

• Clogging or debris on the cannula (the plastic tube that connects the pump to your body)
• Incorrect skin insertion angle or depth
• During insertion, too much pressure was exerted.

If you suspect occlusion, look for bubbles when viewing through any available viewing portals (some pumps have windows where users can see their infusion sites), as well as discoloration around the infusion site area—if either of these signs appears after noticing symptoms such as fatigue or dizziness, it's time to act!

Conclusion

Many individuals are skeptical about insulin pumps because they believe they are overly complex or difficult to operate. But keep in mind that every medical equipment is only as good as the person using it.

Assume you understand how your pump works and are ready to spend some time practicing before beginning therapy. In that situation, an insulin pump may be your best option for diabetes management.