Insulin pump therapy has challenges. Some people deal with these challenges and do well. For other people, injections are a better choice.

Here are some challenges of insulin pump therapy:

• You’re almost always connected to your insulin pump—24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• You could have a quick rise in blood glucose if there are problems with the insulin pump or infusion site.
• You have a higher risk of DKA. (You’ll learn more about the risks of DKA and what you can do to stay as safe as possible in the next section.)
• You need to always carry a safety kit.
• You can’t wear every type of clothing. For example, you shouldn’t wear a cannula and pod under the waistline of your pants. Or you may need a pocket to carry your insulin pump.
• You could have irritated skin or skin infections.
• It takes a long time and a lot of work to start on the insulin pump, keep it working well, and adjust the settings.
• Your blood glucose readings may be unstable for many months when you first start using the insulin pump.
• You need to know how to deal with any problems your insulin pump might have, including if it suddenly stops working.​