An insulin pump is a small battery-powered device. It’s a way to get insulin instead of giving yourself many injections a day (also called multiple daily injection therapy or MDI). An insulin pump:

• uses only rapid-acting insulin
• is attached to your body 24 hours a day 7 days a week, with few exceptions
• stores insulin in a container, such as a reservoir, cartridge, or pod
• gives insulin through a small flexible tube (cannula) that goes under your skin
• gives basal insulin — background insulin to keep your blood glucose levels stable — 24 hours a day at a rate that you program
• gives bolus insulin — insulin you take at meals or to correct blood glucose — when you push buttons​​​