What is an insulin pump?
An insulin pump is a small electronic device that releases the insulin your body needs through the day and night — so you don’t need to do insulin injections.
This can help you keep your blood sugar levels in your target range — but you’ll need to have it attached to your body most of the time for it to work properly.
And you’ll still need to keep a back-up diabetes kit so you can do insulin injections if needed.
How does an insulin pump work?
You only need one type of insulin, known as fast-acting insulin, for your insulin pump.
You usually need to set up the pump, in blocks of time, to release small amounts of insulin all the time. This does the job of background or basal insulin.
Your healthcare team can help you set the insulin rates based on your needs. It can be changed, depending on things like how active you’re being.
You’ll need to tell the pump what bolus dose you want when you eat or to give yourself a correction dose if your blood sugar goes too high.
Most pumps have bolus calculators to help you work out the right amount of insulin you’ll need based on what you’re eating or drinking. You enter how many carbs you’re going to be eating and what your blood sugar level is, and the pump does the maths for you.
The bolus calculators also help you to work out what insulin to give for correction doses based on insulin on board and the blood sugar reading that you input into it.
If you want a hybrid closed loop system - where your continuous glucose monitor, or CGM, talks to your insulin pump - you’ll need a pump that can be connected to a CGM.
Who can use an insulin pump?
Insulin pump systems are generally licensed and recommended for children and adults with type 1 diabetes in guidelines.
They may also be able to benefit people living with other types of diabetes.
Who might an insulin pump system not be suitable for?
If you’re not comfortable wearing diabetes equipment on your body, an insulin pump system may not be suitable for you.
And the amount of data about your blood sugar levels and insulin doses can be overwhelming, so it may not suit everyone.
Read more about the emotions you may experience with diabetes technology.
If you find it hard to do things with your hands, or you have vision problems, you may find it hard to use an insulin pump system unless you have a carer to support you.
Types of insulin pump
There are two types of insulin pump:
- a tubed insulin pump (a tethered pump)
- A tubeless insulin pump (a patch pump).
Your healthcare team can talk to you about the different types of pumps that are available and you can have discussions about which one might be best for you (more on this below).
Both are attached to your body by a tiny tube called a cannula, which goes just under your skin. You’ll need to learn how to change the cannula or the patch pump yourself.
You need to change your cannula or patch pump every two or three days and make sure you move to a different place every time you change it. This is important because you can develop lipohypertrophy, which is where your body forms hard lumps that stop insulin working properly.
You should also change sites to stop itching and rashes that can form if you use the same site for too long.
Each pump manufacturer can have different advice on wearing a pump. You can check with the manufacturer for more information, or ask your healthcare professional for advice. Or you can check the Diabetes Specialist Nurse Forum comparison charts.
Tethered insulin pump
A tethered pump is attached to your body by another small tube that connects to your cannula. People tend to put them on their upper legs, upper arms or stomach.
The pump itself usually has all the controls on it and can be carried on your belt, in a pocket, or in a body band. You can wear it under your clothes if you don’t want it to be on show.
Tethered pumps can be different in things like colour, screen size and some have extra features like Bluetooth remotes.
These are some of the tethered pumps commonly used by the NHS:
- Tandem t slim x2 insulin pump - (Air Liquide Healthcare Ltd)
- MiniMed 640G Insulin Pump – (Medtronic Ltd)
- MiniMed 780G Insulin Pump - (Medtronic Ltd)
- Dana Diabecare i Insulin Pump
- mylife YpsoPump - (Ypsomed)
These are also available to buy from the manufacturer if you aren’t eligible for one and are able to self-fund. Read more on self-funding below.
Patch pump
You attach a patch pump directly on to your body where you’ve chosen to place your cannula. People tend to put them on their upper legs, upper arms or stomach.
Patch pumps have no extra tubing, which means the pump sits directly on your skin and it works by using a handheld device.
Unlike a tethered pump, patch pumps are disposable. You’ll need to change the whole device when the pump alerts you, not just the infusion set and location.
There is currently only one patch pump used on the NHS: the Omnipad DASH – (Insulet International Ltd)
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How can I get an insulin pump on the NHS?
Insulin pumps are generally only offered on the NHS to some children and adults with type 1 diabetes.
Check the latest guidelines on who should be offered a free pump on the NHS.
Self-funding an insulin pump
If you live with type 1 diabetes and don’t qualify for a pump, or have type 2 diabetes or another type of diabetes, your main option is to self-fund a pump.
In some circumstances, you may be able to submit an Individual Funding Request. Speak to your diabetes team for more information on this.
Whatever type of diabetes you have, if you use insulin and are interested in using an insulin pump, talk to your healthcare team. They can help you decide if a pump might suit you and in some cases offer advice on different types of pumps.
How much does an insulin pump cost?
The costs of self-funding an insulin pump can vary depending on the device. You can ask your healthcare professional for more advice on this.
Pros and cons of an insulin pump
Diabetes technology isn’t right for everyone. Here we’ll take you through some of the pros and cons of having an insulin pump.
| Advantages of insulin pumps | Disadvantages of insulin pumps |
| Blood sugar levels are more often in your target range. Most people often have fewer highs and lows. | You'll need to have your pump attached to you all the time. Only take it off for small breaks, like when you're swimming or showering. |
| You won't have to inject as often. | The infusion set (tubing) can sometimes get blocked or become unattached which could lead to high blood sugar levels and increase the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), so you might need to change your infusion set at short notice. |
| You can tailor your insulin more easily before, during and after exercise. | Learning how to use your pump will take some time and you’ll need to have training with your diabetes team on how to use it. |
| You'll have more flexibility in what, when and how much you eat. | There's always a small risk of infection from the cannula. |
| Better accuracy when you're bringing down high sugar levels. |
Even though there are things to consider before getting an insulin pump, overall, they can significantly improve the quality of life for lots of people with diabetes.
Help and support with your insulin pump
You should get pump training and ongoing support from your diabetes healthcare team.
Pump manufacturers also give support if you need help with the technology or if it breaks, and most have helplines you can call if you’re struggling.
We have more information about insulin pumps and other diabetes tech on our online forum – join the conversation.
Can anything go wrong with an insulin pump?
If you ever experience any safety concerns with your CGM or insulin pump you should report it to the Yellow Card scheme.
You can also follow this step-by-step guidance from the MHRA which will give you detailed information on how to report any safety concerns and what information you need to include.
It’s important to always carry a back-up diabetes kit with you if you use an insulin pump. You need to be able to do an insulin injection if your system doesn’t work, for any reason. You should also have a supply of long-acting insulin and know what doses you need to take in the event of pump failure.
If the pump you’re using breaks, contact the pump company straightaway. They will organise a replacement pump to be sent to you.
Unexplained high blood sugar levels
It’s important that you know what to do if you have unexplained high blood sugar levels when using an insulin pump.
Unexplained high blood sugar levels can be caused by different things such as problems with the infusion set, cannula or pump failure.
If you have high blood sugar levels, you should speak to your diabetes team for advice on when to check for ketones. You can develop a life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) very quickly if there is a problem with your pump giving you the insulin you need. This is because this insulin in the pump will be short-acting not long-acting insulin.
If you experience high or low blood sugar levels while using your insulin pump, you may need to treat this differently to how you did before using the system. You can talk to your healthcare team for advice on this, and for advice on sick day rules you can also ask about having an individual care plan.
Are insulin pumps affected travelling on planes and going through security checks?
If you’re travelling abroad, it’s a good idea to check your tech manufacturer’s advice on flying with your insulin pump.
It can also be helpful to contact the airline you’ve bought tickets from, or look on their website, for guidance for people living with diabetes.
Security staff at the airport may ask to see evidence that you need to use your diabetes tech so it might be a good idea to get a letter from your GP that you can bring to the airport.
Not all diabetes tech can go through certain security checks, such as X-ray scanners, at airports so it’s important to speak to your healthcare team and check the manufacturer’s guidelines before you go.
If you don’t want to remove your insulin pump to go through a full body scanner, ask for a “pat down” instead.
Please be aware that this may take some time, as a pat down might need to be completed by a specific member of staff, so it may be helpful to factor this into your travel plans and leave plenty of time to go through airport security.
Insulin pumps are safe to use as normal when flying but changes in air pressure can affect the amount of insulin delivered. Monitor your blood sugar levels more closely on flights, especially during take-off and landing.
Read our information on our Diabetes and Travel page to learn more about diabetes technology and airports.
There is a Medical Device Awareness Card you can download, or print, ahead of your holiday, which provides information about insulin pumps for both you as a traveller and for airport security officers.
Can insulin pumps be exposed to hot and cold temperatures?
Hot temperatures
High temperatures can affect your insulin pump as the insulin in the pump reservoir may become damaged by the heat. If you’re going to be sitting out in the sun, it’s a good idea to cover your pump with a towel to stop it from getting too hot.
Make sure you have a plan to follow from your diabetes team with advice on what to do if you have if you have unexpected high blood sugar levels.
Make sure you’re storing unopened vials of insulin in the fridge and keeping opened vials at room temperature. You can find advice on how to store your insulin on the patient information leaflet that comes with the insulin. You can also speak to the manufacturer, a pharmacist or your diabetes team.
Cold temperatures
Insulin pump handsets can be affected by the cold so keep these at room temperature. If you are outside, keep them in an inside pocket.
Can insulin pumps be exposed to water?
It’s always best to refer to the user manual for your insulin pump to check if it’s water resistant or waterproof.
If your insulin pump isn’t waterproof, it should be disconnected before you swim, shower or bathe. Speak to your healthcare professional for advice on how to do this if you're not sure.
If you use a tubed insulin pump, it’s best to disconnect this before swimming, showering, or bathing. Many patch pumps are waterproof and can still be worn in these instances. It’s best to check your manufacturer’s guidance for information about the depth of water and the amount of time underwater your specific model can be exposed to
What happens if I am using an insulin pump and I am admitted to hospital?
If you know you will be admitted to hospital, you can contact your diabetes team in advance to let them know. Or if you’ve been admitted unexpectedly, you can ask the hospital ward staff to let them know.
If you’re admitted to hospital, the hospital staff and the diabetes team will talk with you about whether you should continue using your insulin pump as usual during your admission.
If you’re generally well, are able to continue self-management, and there’s a specialist team at the hospital who can provide guidance, you should be able to continue using your insulin pump as normal.
Your hospital may not have all the insulin pump supplies you need, so you, or your family or friends will need to bring these in. This will include infusion sets and pump reservoirs. When you’re admitted, the hospital should prescribe you with the insulin you normally use in your insulin pump.
If you’re very unwell when you’re admitted, your consciousness is impaired, or you can’t use your tech yourself, your insulin pump will be discontinued, and you’ll be given insulin injections or insulin through a small tube called a cannula instead.
Can you get insurance for your insulin pump?
Like all types of tech, looking after your insulin pump is important. Because electronic devices are expensive, you may wonder whether to get insurance to cover it in case you lose or break it.
Before taking out separate insurance, it’s worth seeing if you can have it as a named item on your household insurance. This might be a cheaper and simpler option.
Still have more questions or things you're not sure about on insulin pumps after reading this page? Call our helpline on 0345 123 2399.
