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Important safety information | Prescribing Information | Glossary | |
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Tips on Traveling with an Insulin Pump
Is using an insulin pump more flexible than insulin injections? Insulin pumps provide very precise control of insulin dose levels. This means that there can be fewer wide swings in blood sugar levels. The pump allows you to decide when and how much you wish to eat—or even if you want to skip or delay meals. After a while, many people who use insulin pumps may forget they are wearing them. Often, the hardest part about wearing a pump is explaining what it is to people who comment or ask questions. This may be an opportunity for you to discuss diabetes with people who may not understand it. Will an insulin pump keep you from doing certain activities? An insulin pump should not prevent you from doing anything and may give you more freedom and mobility. Pump therapy can help you manage the high and low blood sugar levels that can be caused by strenuous physical activity, especially for young people. Pump users can be active in many sports, such as golf, tennis, dance, gymnastics, swimming, wrestling, baseball, basketball, football, running, and skiing. Even when you can't safely use a pump, such as in deep sea diving, there are other ways to manage your diabetes for short time periods off the pump. Can you travel with an insulin pump? Using an insulin pump may make traveling easier for people with diabetes. Many people are traveling with insulin pumps. Most security personnel are familiar with insulin pumps and security devices in airports do not harm pumps. Current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines for travel advise that medications and equipment such as insulin and syringes be in their original packaging with prescription information on the label. However, in practice, people who use insulin pumps regularly travel by plane from city to city and between countries with no problems. There are some distinct advantages of using an insulin pump while traveling over using other insulin delivery methods, for example insulin pump users can travel across time zones and not worry about erratic insulin peaks. What are other tips for living with a pump? Wearing a pump for 24 hours a day can be challenging. Some people carry the pump in a pocket or wear it on the waist. Others use pouches attached to the calf or arm. Some women place the pump under their arms inside their bras. Depending on what type of sleeper you are, the pump can be kept under the pillow or on the bedside table at night. The same goes for intimate times. Some people disconnect from the pump temporarily. A good time to disconnect the pump or to plan an infusion set change is during showering or bathing. "I have learned more in this past year (since I got my pump) than I've known all my life as a diabetic (35 years), and I am taking much better care of myself...I feel a lot better mentally and physically." — Kathy*, Florida Do insulin pumps require special care? Normal care of your insulin pump is similar to that of any portable electronic device. Changing batteries and routine maintenance are all that's required to care for your pump. If a pump has an electromechanical or computer problem, it will be automatically detected and an alarm will go off. If the alarm on your pump goes off, you need to respond to it immediately. Pumps will not detect a leaking infusion set, disconnected tubing, or air in the infusion set. If any of these occur, you will not receive your insulin and may not hear an alarm. This means that you must be aware of your blood sugar level and respond—figuring out the problem—when the level stays too high. Can you afford a pump? Some insurance companies cover insulin pumps; however, they have strict guidelines about who and what they will cover. In order to keep insurance coverage of the insulin pump, you need to see and be evaluated by your doctor at least every three months. "After [some initial problems], My husband decided his pump was his new best friend and now would not go back to injections. In fact, today he commented that he feels more like a person without diabetes, with being able to decide when and what he wants to eat. He's not one to accept change, so if he can do it, I think anyone can." — Marj*, North Carolina Now that you are on a pump—what next? Once you've selected the most advanced way to manage diabetes, both in terms of blood sugar control and lifestyle flexibility, you'll soon become an expert in knowing how your basal and bolus doses work. Stay in touch with your diabetes care team. You should be sure to have tests and exams to check: Every 3 Months:
And, keep informed about the latest recommendations and tools for managing diabetes. Have other questions? Questions are common when you start pump therapy. Your diabetes educator, certified pump trainer, or doctor can answer many of your questions. Information is also available on the websites listed throughout this site. You may be able to find a pump support group in your community by checking with the diabetes education programs in your area. What is NovoLog® and how is it used in a pump? Learn about the benefits of NovoLog® – your trusted insulin analog approved for use in insulin pumps since 2001.
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