LIVINGLIVING
INSULIN PUMP OVERVIEW
I
nfusion delivery systems
- insulin pumps - are now
more widely available, and
there's more choice than in
previous years, the number
of options having more than doubled in
the last few years. Infusion is not going
away; indeed the future will see newly
diagnosed Type 1 diabetics going on to
insulin pumps much sooner and more
Type 2s on insulin moving over to pump
therapy too.
Themes that have developed in that
time are an increased use of CGM within
the pump community as both patients
and clinicians have started to understand
how sensor can aid control, as well as
the emergence of colour display screens
as standard, and easier downloading
facilities and online portals for data
storing, viewing and sharing. We will be
reporting more fully on the current state
of CGM capability and availability in the
September issue of this magazine.
In the cases of the manufacturers
that have been supplying insulin pumps
in the UK for several years, more than
one version of their pump system is in
circulation, with people being asked to
upgrade or swap pumps after a four-year
period. T he newer pumps are given more
space here.
Where a pump is SAP (a sensor
augmented pump), it is stated, though
to be fair 'no' probably means 'not yet'.
This feature comprises an overview plus brief summaries of
what insulin pump systems are currently available - or will be
shortly available - in the UK. The infusion systems are listed
in alphabetical order by manufacturer name (company names
and brand names are rather convoluted in some cases).