Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I have a holiday from the pump?

a. Yes you can. You should be aware however that on removing the pump you only have approximately 1 hours worth of insulin under the skin and should refer to your designated healthcare professional regarding a plan to go back to your multiple injections.

2. Can I eat whatever I like?

a. Theoretically yes, however you should follow your dietician’s guidelines for healthy eating. If your energy intake exceeds energy used, you will gain weight.

3. Can I skip / delay a meal?

a. Yes missing / delaying the occasional meal should have no significant impact on your blood glucose levels, as long as you’re basal rates are set correctly.

4. Do I have to do lots of blood glucose tests?

a. To make pump therapy safe and effective you need to do a minimum of 4-6 blood glucose tests per day.

5. Do I still have to take my long acting insulin?

a. No. The basal rate delivery of the pump replaces this. You should always keep some long acting insulin in date, just in case your pump fails or you need to return to injections at any time.

6. What is a basal rate?

a. This is the insulin that is delivered as a constant trickle automatically throughout the day, and replaces your long acting insulin. Basal rates are unique to an individual and are set during the initial training programme.

7. What is a bolus?

a. A bolus is a defined amount of insulin given on demand to cover the carbohydrate content in a snack or meal (meal bolus) and to bring your blood glucose down to the required level (correction bolus). You can give different types of boluses for different types of food. e.g. normal bolus for quickly absorbed carbohydrates or extended boluses for slowly absorbed carbohydrate meals that are higher in fat.

8. Who is suitable for a pump?

a. You should already be on flexible multiple injection therapy. You should be prepared to do a minimum of 4-6 blood glucose tests per day. If despite this, you are suffering from repeated hypoglycaemic attacks and erratic swinging blood glucose values, including being unstable to get you HbA1c under 7.5% you may qualify and should refer to the NICE guidance (click here for details)

9. Who pays for my pump?

a. If you fulfil the NICE criteria (click here for details) your pump should be paid for by your Primary Care Trust. They should also fund the ongoing costs of running the pump, provided you have been recommended as a suitable case by your healthcare team.

10. Is the pump waterproof?

a. Yes it is. It is waterproof to 3.6m for up to 24hours, so should be fine for any surface water activities such as swimming, canoeing, windsurfing, etc.

11. What do I do if my pump fails?

a. Contact us immediately to arrange a replacement. Office hours are 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday (Tel: 01926 494222) or outside hours contact John Hughes (Tel: 07775 642239). If you need to revert back to multiple injections please consult with your designated healthcare professional.

12. How do I wear the pump?

a. There are a whole variety of different ways to wear the pump. We supply a full range of accessories for the Animas range of pumps, including bedtime wear.

13. What happens at airports?

a. When travelling abroad you should make sure you carry a letter from your designated healthcare professional explaining what the pump is for. The pump is not affected by body scanners at airport security. Once on the plane, if necessary, explain to the cabin crew what the pump is for and clarify that it does not affect aeroplane equipment in any way.

14. Will an insulin pump automatically regulate my blood glucose level?

a. No. The insulin pump does not measure the blood glucose level and then determine how much insulin should be given. There is no such system currently available for people with diabetes, although there may be in the future.

The insulin pump does automatically dispense the basal insulin, but this is according to the settings that you program yourself.

You will need to perform frequent blood glucose testing (4 - 6 times a day) and learn how to calculate your insulin needs, based on your test results and the food that you eat.

15. Will I become dependent on the pump?

a. No. Pump therapy can be stopped at any time. You can disconnect from the pump for short periods – whilst having a shower, for example. If you remove the pump for more than a few hours then you will need to inject some insulin to keep you going.

16. How long will the batteries in my pump last?

a. The lifespan of a battery depends on various factors, including your daily insulin usage, how long the infusion set is left in position (and therefore how often a infusion tube needs to be filled), and how frequently a bolus dose of insulin is administered.

As a general guide, the lithium batteries in the animas IR1200 should last approximately 10 - 12 weeks. Alkaline batteries (such as Duracell can be used but these may only last 2-3 weeks)

17. Can a mobile phone affect my insulin pump?

a. We suggest that the use of a mobile or cordless telephone should be kept separate from your insulin pump to avoid any interferences with the pumps electronics.