Discovering Insulin Pump Therapy: A Beginner's Guide
Do you know how your body processes food and regulates sugar levels? If you have Type 1 diabetes, understanding these processes can help you manage your condition. Let's take a quick tour inside your body, and then introduce an important ally in your diabetes management: the insulin pump.
When you eat food, your body breaks down carbohydrates into smaller units, including a type of sugar called glucose. Your cells use glucose for energy. But before glucose can enter the cells, it needs a key - and that key is a hormone called insulin.
In a healthy body, the pancreas releases insulin when you eat. However, if you have Type 1 diabetes, your body doesn't produce insulin, and that's where insulin pumps come in.
Insulin pumps are small, computerized devices that deliver insulin to your body. They work through a tiny tube, called a catheter, that's inserted just under your skin. This delivery method is a lot like how a healthy pancreas releases insulin. And just like your pancreas, insulin pumps release insulin in two ways:
Basal insulin: Small, steady doses of insulin released throughout the day and night.
Bolus insulin: Larger doses of insulin to match the carbohydrates in your food or to correct high blood sugar levels.
Insulin pumps can offer greater control and stability over your blood sugar levels. They have customizable settings that let you adjust your basal insulin rate to fit your body's needs. You can also adjust your bolus insulin dosage easily, based on your food choices and blood sugar levels. This gives you a more natural structure for insulin dosing than individual injections, which can be a game-changer for some people with Type 1 diabetes.
If you're looking to gain better control over your diabetes, insulin pump therapy may be worth considering. As always, talk to your healthcare team about what's best for you. This is just an introduction - there's much more to learn about insulin pumps and how they can fit into your life.
