Only quick acting insulin is used in the pump. You can program in as many different basal rates as you need. Tiny amounts of insulin are pumped every few minutes, for our background insulin. If basal changes are required, I change the rate 2 hours before the consistent rise/fall in blood sugar.I was looking into insulin pumps and the Medtronic 670G (I am currently injecting and have been for 17 years), however I was a bit confused. It says that it can maintain basal rates and dose for bolus. However it only has one reservoir for insulin, how does this work? does it use bolus in a constant fashion to maintain basal rates? Do you still have to inject with the pump? Thanks in advance.
Thanks for the info, how have you found your injection sites? As I have some lipohypertrophy mainly around my abdomen area from years of injecting out of convenience, is this better with pumps, using a canula for example?Only quick acting insulin is used in the pump. You can program in as many different basal rates as you need. Tiny amounts of insulin are pumped every few minutes, for our background insulin. If basal changes are required, I change the rate 2 hours before the consistent rise/fall in blood sugar.
The only time I need to inject is if something has gone wrong and I have high blood sugars with ketones. I can't remember the last time I had to do this.
I haven't had any problems with injection sites, so far. I can vary my cannula sites more than I could for injections. (I use my back for a quarter of my sites, whereas I couldn't have injected into my back.)
To clarify @Muneeb, the needle/cannula stay in place for about 3 days at a time whilst the pump is doing its thing, so injections ('skin breaches) are much reduced compared to multiple daily injection mode. Of course the sites are rotated to prevent lipodystrophy and to reduce the risk of poor absorption.Thanks for the info, how have you found your injection sites? As I have some lipohypertrophy mainly around my abdomen area from years of injecting out of convenience, is this better with pumps, using a canula for example?
I think you'll be tremendously happy with the results. The first month or so will be tough as it learns about you, and as long as you're not trying to target an Hba1C of 5%, it will make life easier. The most important thing is that you have to let go of what you know about pumping and the rules you have in place and let it do its stuff. Feedback from Medtronic is that those who are most successful with it are those who are more relaxed about how it goes about its job.@tim2000s I am lucky enough to get the cgm on the NHS.
Thanks @tim2000s, that's good to know. HbA1c of 5%? I am happy to have been able to maintain one around 7.5% but I'd love to get a lower one without all the hypos. Hopefully that will happen with the 670G. I must admit, I will be a bit nervous, putting my trust in new diabetes technology.I think you'll be tremendously happy with the results. The first month or so will be tough as it learns about you, and as long as you're not trying to target an Hba1C of 5%, it will make life easier. The most important thing is that you have to let go of what you know about pumping and the rules you have in place and let it do its stuff. Feedback from Medtronic is that those who are most successful with it are those who are more relaxed about how it goes about its job.