Peer Reviewed
Diabetes clinic

An overview of insulin pump therapy

Darrell A Price, Debbie Fosket
Abstract
Modern pump therapy is relatively new and different centres will have different criteria for its use. In the authors’ experience, good glycaemic control can be achieved in most children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes through the use of insulin pump therapy.
Key Points
    What are insulin pumps?

    An insulin pump is a compact computerised device that delivers small amounts of insulin under the skin. The pump is programmed to give background doses of insulin continuously depending on the individual’s needs – the ‘basal rate’ (see the box on page 66 for explanations of terms used). The only insulins used with insulin pump therapy are the rapid-acting insulin analogues aspart, lispro and glulisine.

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