The insulin pump, or insulin infusion pump, as it can also be called, is a small portable electronic device that releases insulin for 24 hours, which is released and passed through a small tube into a cannula, which is connected to the patient’s body. diabetic person using a flexible needle, which is inserted into the abdomen, arm or thigh, as shown in the images.
The insulin infusion pump provides better control of blood glucose and diabetes, and can be used in people of all ages with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, under the indication and prescription of the endocrinologist.
- The doctor schedules the insulin pump with the amount of insulin to be released 24 hours a day.
- However.
- The individual should monitor their blood glucose levels using the glucometer and adjust insulin doses according to their food intake and daily exercise.
At any meal, the individual should calculate the amount of carbohydrates to be ingested and schedule the insulin infusion pump to administer an additional dose of insulin to the body, called bolus, based on that value.
The insulin pump needle should be replaced every 2 to 3 days and in the first few days it is normal for the person to feel it inserted into the skin; However, with the use of the pump, the person eventually gets used to it.
The patient is trained to use the insulin infusion pump by a nurse or diabetes educator before beginning to use it alone.
The insulin pump must be purchased directly from the manufacturer, which can be Medtronic, Roche or Accu-Chek.
The price of the insulin pump ranges from 13,000 to 15,000 reais and maintenance between 500 and 1,500 reais per month.
The insulin infusion pump and equipment can be free, but the process is difficult as a test is required with a detailed description of the patient’s clinical process and the need for the doctor to use the pump and prove that the patient cannot. acquire it and maintain a monthly salary.