When food is consumed, the body breaks it down into glucose, which is a source of energy for the body. Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas that moves glucose from the bloodstream into the cells, where it is utilized. Diabetes is a disorder that involves high blood glucose levels, low levels of insulin in the body or resistance to insulin. It is treated by taking medication or through insulin replacement. Certain devices are used to facilitate insulin replacement in diabetes.
Glucose Meters
Glucose meters are devices used to monitor blood glucose levels. They help diabetics adjust their diet and the amount of insulin that they need. It also helps physicians recommend when their patients should take their insulin and what amounts they should take. There are many types of blood glucose monitoring devices, but they all involve pricking the skin for a blood sample, test strips to place the blood on and a glucose meter. The test strip with the blood sample is inserted into the glucose meter, which then reads the amount of glucose in the blood. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library suggests that patients may choose a glucose meter based on features like the size of the display panel and the amount of time the meter needs to provide results.
Insulin Syringes
Many people who suffer from diabetes need to take insulin. The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse says that most diabetics use a needle and syringe to inject insulin into their bodies. Diabetic patients use specially designed insulin syringes for insulin administration. Insulin syringes are calibrated in units, not milliliters, and vary in size. The type of syringe used depends on the dose of insulin that needs to be administered. All insulin syringes have small, fine needles, regardless of the size of the syringe.
Insulin Pen
An insulin pen can also be used to inject insulin. The insulin pens look like pens with cartridges. They are also convenient, easy to use and may be less painful than syringes and needles. Some insulin pens are prefilled with insulin and can be disposed of once they are used. Other insulin pens use replaceable cartridges filled with insulin. A short disposable needle is screwed onto the tip of an insulin pen before it is used for an injection.
Insulin Pump
An insulin pump is a medical device that can be used to deliver insulin continuously without using an insulin pen or needles and syringes. The device includes the pump itself, which also contains a replaceable reservoir of insulin and an infusion set. The infusion set consists of a cannula that is placed under the skin of the abdomen and tubing that connects the pump to the cannula. The pump is about the size of a cellular phone and can be carried in a person's pocket or worn on a belt.
References
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: Alternative Devices for Taking Insulin
- American Diabetes Association: Insulin Pumps
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: Diabetes Overview
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
- "Nonprescription Product Therapeutics"; W. Steven Pray; 2006
