People with diabetes lead a significantly responsible life in terms of health to stop their sugar levels from falling out of balance. The good news is, with the advancement in technology, new products that help diabetic patients to maintain their sugar levels easily are hitting the market. The closed loop insulin pump is one of the best among them.
In this article, we will discuss in detail what a closed loop insulin pump is, how it works, and the benefits it can bring to people with diabetes.
What Is It?
When you have diabetes, your pancreas is unable to produce and release insulin into your bloodstream like it naturally does. A closed loop pump does what the pancreas has to do by supplying your body with insulin when your body requires it.
That’s why diabetic patients increasingly use closed loop insulin pumps to prevent the imbalance of blood sugar levels, often based on their doctor’s recommendation.
How Does It Work?
A closed loop insulin pump is a medical device that is used to treat diabetes. It is designed to deliver insulin at different rates and times of the day.
In order to use the pump, you must have an infusion set (a small catheter inserted into your skin) attached to it. The infusion set delivers insulin through your body via a subcutaneous cannula (a plastic tube). The infusion set can be placed on any part of your body — for example, in your stomach area or armpit.
The pump measures your blood glucose levels and delivers insulin accordingly. You can program the pump to deliver more or less insulin as needed throughout the day by using its user interface (UI).
Benefits of Closed Loop Pump
The benefits of a closed loop pump include:
- It’s a good option for people who have trouble with their blood sugar levels. If you have type 1 diabetes, this is especially true. Closed loop pumps can help you avoid hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia by maintaining your blood sugar levels in the normal range, which can reduce your risk of complications like kidney disease.
- They can help you avoid weight gain. A closed loop pump makes it easier for you to control how much insulin is released into your body throughout the day, reducing the risk of weight gain from excess medication use (and other factors).
- They prevent complications like kidney disease. Those who use insulin injections frequently are at an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease due to high blood sugars over time (diabetes complications are actually one reason why many people choose not to take insulin). Closed loop pumps allow users to better manage their glucose levels throughout the day and night so they don’t experience spikes that could lead them down this unfortunate path.
Closed loop insulin pumps are amazing, cutting-edge tools that come in handy for people with diabetes and can improve their quality of life significantly. As experts at Tandem Diabetes rightly point out, “always pay attention to your symptoms, actively monitor your glucose levels, and treat according to your healthcare provider’s recommendations.” So, what are you waiting for? Consult your physician today to discuss how feasible it is for you to use closed loop insulin pumps and make life with diabetes worry-free like never before.
