Insulin Pumps
What They Do: Insulin pumps are devices that deliver insulin without the need for manual injections. They are able to administer rapid-acting insulin in both basal (slow, baseline) and bolus (mealtime) capacities, once users program their dose into the device. Many pumps come with built-in bolus-calculators, which can reduce the hassle of manual insulin dose calculations.
Some Medtronic and Tandem systems combine data from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) with an insulin pump to automatically adjust insulin based on your blood glucose levels. Click to learn more about automated insulin delivery systems.
What Supplies Do I Need?
In addition to the insulin itself, most insulin pumps require three main components, all worn close to the body:
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Pump
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Inserted sub-cutaneous (beneath the skin) cannula, which delivers insulin (also called an infusion set)
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Tubing – moves insulin from the pump to the cannula
Exceptions:
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The Insulet OmniPod consists of a patch worn on the skin that administers insulin, plus a device that the user controls to manage insulin dosing.
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Roche’s Accu-Chek patch pump is used with a disposable insulin reservoir and a handheld controller. This device is currently only available in Europe and Australia.
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The Valeritas V-Go is a 24-hour, disposable patch pump for people with type 2 diabetes. The spring-driven patch pump is worn on the skin with a preset basal rate and can bolus at any given time.
Choosing a Pump:
With multiple pumps available, it raises the question: "What pump to choose?" There is NO perfect pump, since all devices have benefits and drawbacks depending on your preferences. The table below summarizes our team's experiences with a number of pumps common in the US.
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Pump |
Key Features |
Key Draw-backs |
Most Ideal For... |
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Tubeless, discreet, and relatively painless insertion Easy setup and pod changes Waterproof Wireless controller Lower upfront cost |
Must be thrown away every three days, or more frequently for people with high daily doses No integrated meter with OmniPod Dash Currently no AID availability |
Those who are new to pumps, very young people, highly active people Those who prefer a discrete pump without tubing |
|
|
|
Makes use of SmartGuard technology to stop insulin delivery for two hours if glucose levels reach a low Waterproof |
Sensor must be calibrated 3-4 times per day Only approved for children 14 and older |
People who struggle with nighttime hypoglycemia |
|
|
Hybrid closed-loop pump
Auto Mode automatically adjusts basal-insulin based CGM readings Makes use of SmartGuard technology to stop insulin delivery for two hours if glucose levels reach a low |
Sensor must be calibrated 3-4 times per day Frequent system alerts are given while in Auto Mode The pump requires users to confirm mealtime and correct bolus recommendations |
People who struggle with nighttime hypoglycemia
People who need help stabilizing glucose levels |
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|
Compatible with Basal-IQ and Control-IQ AID systems Utilizes a touchscreen, highly-intuitive interface Has a rechargeable battery Highly customizable “personal profiles” for insulin delivery |
Infusion set changes take a long time |
Control-IQ AID system shows excellent nighttime glucose numbers Those who desire a pump that doesn’t look like a medical device Those who are new to pumps |
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Auto-mode can automatically adjust basal insulin rates every five minutes based on CGM readings Bluetooth-enabled to connect to smartphone and update software when available Share feature allows direct sharing of data from smartphone to healthcare providers and other caregivers FDA approved for children ages 2 and up |
Requires finger stick calibration twice each day to inform insulin dosing decisions System alerts in auto-mode can be frequent and bothersome Basic programming and initial setup can be complicated |
Young children ages 2 and up Sharing data remotely between user, caregiver, and healthcare providers |
Useful Links:
Understanding Insulin Pump Settings – Learn about insulin pump terms like basal rates, carb ratios, insulin sensitivity, and more.
Tandem’s Control-IQ Cleared in United States – Control-IQ is the first AID system with automatic correction boluses and no fingersticks CGM (Dexcom G6); cleared for those ages 14 and older; launch in January 2020.
MiniMed 770G Automated Insulin Delivery Cleared for Children-MiniMed 770G hybrid closed-loop system receives FDA approval for children ages 2 and up
MiniMed 780G Receives CE-Mark Approval in Europe-MiniMed 780G closed-loop system approved in Europe for people with diabetes ages 7-80
The FDA Approves Medtronic’s MiniMed 670G Hybrid Closed Loop System – MiniMed 670G is the first hybrid closed loop system officially approved for people with type 1 diabetes seven years and older.
Insulet’s Omnipod Dash – A new and improved touchscreen handheld personal diabetes manager and a Bluetooth-enabled tubeless pod.
TEST DRIVE: Insulet's Second Generation Omnipod – Adam and Kelly report on the advantages of the newest Omnipod.
Accu-Chek Solo Tubeless Patch Pump Approved in Europe – This pump from Roche launched in four European countries in 2018; it has a wireless handheld controller with Bluetooth and a 200-unit insulin reservoir.
Insulet’s Omnipod Now Eligible for Medicare Coverage – Omnipod is available in pharmacies and covered under Medicare Part D.
New Pumps Coming to Canada, Europe: Medtronic MiniMed 670G and Tandem t:slim X2 – The MiniMed 670G hybrid closed loop system and t:slim X2 pump with G5 CGM integration will soon be available for people with type 1 diabetes living in Canada, complementing recent availability in Europe.
FDA Approves Medtronic’s MiniMed 630G System – The MiniMed 630G is the same pump platform as the 640G and 670G (the same overall pump body design, waterproofing, screen, buttons, etc), but has the simplest control algorithm: suspending basal insulin delivery when the low threshold is crossed.
Valeritas V-Go – This wearable insulin delivery device provides basal-bolus insulin therapy for adults with type 2 diabetes.
Please note, this page is not a comprehensive list of all of the available resources or products available. All links are organized chronologically within their respective sections.