Diabetes management can be difficult and inconvenient, especially if you need insulin injections. Insulin injections can also cause fluctuations in your blood glucose levels, making careful diabetes control difficult. Insulin pumps are used to provide a more consistent flow of insulin, saving people from the hassle of regular insulin injections.
Step 1
Insulin pumps can be convenient, but they need to be used properly. If you decide to use an insulin pump, your doctor can help you get accustomed to it. Many hospitals offer an intensive program on an out-patient basis that will help you become comfortable using and setting the instrument.
Step 2
Calculate your basal dose. To do this, calculate how much insulin you used in the past seven days and divide by seven. Multiply this amount by 0.4 or 0.5, and divide by 24.
Step 3
Measure your blood glucose levels at least four to six times per day, especially early on. This is important because you will need to program extra doses of insulin, called bolus doses, to compensate for elevations in blood glucose caused by eating a meal or a snack. Your doctor will be able to help you determine how large a bolus dose you should be to start with, though you will most likely need to adjust the pump daily.
Step 4
Keep a daily record of your insulin pump flow rate and blood glucose levels. This will help you make adjustments to your insulin pump to keep your blood sugar under tight control. Review these records every week to look for patterns of abnormally high or low glucose levels.
Tips and Warnings
- You may disconnect your pump for a short time, but do not go for more than two hours without insulin. Travel with extra supplies and an insulin pen in case you are unable to use your insulin pump.
Things You'll Need
- Diary to track insulin doses and glucose rates
