I am using Omnipod brand of insulin pump. There are others out there that look and act a little different but the mechanism of design is basically the same- to provide the wearer with insulin constantly. My little ‘pods’ (what these pump devices are called) are supposed to be worn for about 72hrs and then deactivated and a new one activated and applied to a different site on the body.
When I am starting a new pod I need to prep it first by filling the little reservoir inside it with insulin. The pod attaches to me with adhesive and is completely self-contained and waterproof. (Waterproof for the most part- I can swim and shower with it but if I decide to become some sort of mermaid I’d need extra adhesive). Once the pump is attached to me I use the controller (which looks like a bulky cell phone) to activate it. A small needle then inserts the cannula into my skin. This is how my insulin will be delivered for the next 72 hrs.
Yes, it hurts for a second and I do hold my breath in anticipation every time a new pod is activated. But doing this once about every 3 days is definitely nicer than doing injections multiple times a day. I don’t feel the cannula once it is inserted although I have had sites that are a bit more tender than other areas. I figure the tenderness could be from sleeping on it or if I am bumping it repeatedly.
With the controller (called at PDM or Personal Diabetes Manager) a ‘basal rate’ of insulin is programmed so I am getting a constant drip of it. With a pump I am no longer using my lantus (long acting) insulin, only a fast acting insulin. The pump does not monitor my BG, so I do have to do finger pokes for meal time boluses or corrections throughout the day but the PDM is also a glucometer, so I really have everything in one place.
One thing to keep in mind with the pump is that it only uses fasting acting insulin so if there is trouble with the site and insulin isn’t getting delivered properly, BG can start to run higher, faster, leading to hyperglycemia, if not dealt with right away.