Insulin Pumps

There are two main types of insulin pumps:

1. Traditional Insulin Pumps: These pumps are connected to the body by a tube that delivers insulin through a small tube. One popular tethered insulin pump is the Tandem t:slim X2. This pump is known for its slim design.
2. Tubeless Insulin Pumps: A tubeless insulin pump doesn’t have tubing, making it more discreet and flexible. Two tubeless options available at US MED are the Insulet Omnipod 5 and Insulet OmniPod DASH.

Both types of insulin pumps help you manage your blood sugar levels more easily.

An insulin pump is a device that gives your body insulin. A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is a device that checks your blood sugar every few minutes using a tiny sensor under your skin. When used together, an insulin pump and CGM can make managing diabetes easier.

Diabetic insulin pumps are wearable, computerized devices that provide a constant supply of rapid-acting insulin to people with diabetes, mimicking the function of a normally functioning pancreas. These products can deliver insulin in small, continuous doses (AKA “basal insulin”) or surges (AKA a “bolus”), providing a convenient alternative to daily insulin injections for diabetes patients.

The price of a new insulin pump will vary across different insulin pump brands and insurance policies, effectively making it impossible to estimate the cost of your insulin pump without additional information. However, you should know that these devices are more expensive than “traditional” insulin delivery products like syringes and pens.

In order to use an insulin pump correctly, you’ll need to get information from your doctor or a diabetes educator. During that process, you’ll learn how to attach your infusion set to your body, change your pump’s insulin and infusion set, control your pump’s various features, and deal with any problems that may arise while using your pump.

Medicare Part B can partially cover insulin pumps if you medically require insulin. If you do, Medicare will cover these devices as durable medical equipment—you’ll pay 20% of the pump’s cost, and Part B will pay for the other 80%.

Though using an insulin pump shouldn’t usually hurt, these devices may cause some pain or discomfort depending on your personal pain threshold. Even so, the level of pain associated with these devices should be well below the pain that comes with “standard” insulin injections.

One of the biggest benefits associated with insulin pumps is convenience: a pump can give you the amount of insulin you need, when you need it. Along with that, you can enjoy a lower risk of high and low blood glucose, cut down on insulin injections, and potentially improve your A1C values with an insulin pump.

Under normal circumstances, your insulin pump should last for quite a while. These products typically last from four to eight years before needing to be replaced.

Both Medicare and private insurance policies can cover insulin pumps. If you have questions about how your insurance covers these devices or what eligibility requirements you’ll need to meet first, get in touch with your insurance provider.

Though insulin pumps can usually make diabetes management easier, these devices aren’t free of problems. Notably, issues with your insulin pump could interfere with insulin delivery. Insulin pump usage can also raise your risk of DKA or result in skin irritation, among other potential issues.

Though many people with diabetes can benefit from insulin pumps, these devices aren’t right for everyone. If you aren’t interested in taking time to learn how to use an insulin pump or are concerned about the potential downsides of this therapy, sticking to “traditional” insulin delivery methods may be in your best interest.