Insulin pump therapy requires both the care unit and the person with diabetes to delve into the subject and learn how to utilize the diverse features of pump therapy.
Safe use of the pump requires regular blood sugar self-monitoring with a glucose sensor or intensive self-measurements, and reacting to overly low or high blood sugar values. In addition to the pump and its equipment, a spare cannula and batteries must be carried or otherwise available. Furthermore, due to system malfunctions, backup insulin, its injection equipment, a blood sugar meter, and its strips should be available.
For insulin pump dosing to be safe and to utilize the features of the insulin pump, the pump user:
Must know how to handle insulin and how to use the pump equipment and the ketone meter.
Must understand the short duration of rapid-acting insulin and the risk of diabetic ketaocidosis (DKA) if insulin intake is interrupted for any reason.
Must be able to administer insulin with pens or an insulin syringe if switching from the pump to injections.
Must know how to use a dose calculator.
Must be able to view and report the settings of the dose calculator and basal insulin from the pump and understand the main principles and basics of making adjustments.