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Home > Insulin Pump Therapy >  5. Insulin pump challenges

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Insulin Pump Therapy

5. Insulin pump challenges

In this section, you'll learn:

  • some of the challenges of insulin pump therapy

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.​