A range of Harley St Doctors offers access to diabetes insulin pumps.
Many patients struggle to obtain insulin pumps on the NHS but these are easily available via a range of Harley St diabetes clinics.
The most recently available advance in insulin delivery is the insulin pump. An insulin pump is composed of a pump reservoir similar to that of an insulin cartridge, a battery-operated pump, and a computer chip that allows the user to control the exact amount of insulin being delivered.
How big is an insulin pump?
Currently, pumps on the market are about the size of a standard communications beeper.
How does an insulin pump work?
The pump is attached to a thin plastic tube (an infusion set) that has a soft cannula (or plastic needle) at the end through which insulin passes. This cannula is inserted under the skin, usually on the abdomen. The cannula is changed every two days. The tubing can be disconnected from the pump while showering or swimming. The pump is used for continuous insulin delivery, 24 hours a day. The amount of insulin is programmed and is administered at a constant rate (basal rate). Often, the amount of insulin needed over the course of 24 hours varies depending on factors like exercise, activity level, and sleep.
The insulin pump allows the user to program many different basal rates to allow for variation in lifestyle. Zousätzlech, the user can program the pump to deliver a bolus (large dose of insulin) during meals to cover the excess demands of carbohydrate ingestion.
How common is an insulin pump?
Over 50,000 people with diabetes worldwide are using an insulin pump. Dës Zuel wiisst dramatesch wéi dës Apparater méi kleng a méi userfrëndlech ginn. Insulin Pompelen erlaben eng strikt Bluttzocker Kontroll a Liewensstil Flexibilitéit wärend d'Effekter vum nidderegen Bluttzocker minimiséieren (Hypoglykämie). Am Moment, d'Pompel ass dat noosten Apparat um Maart zu enger kënschtlecher Bauchspaicheldrüs. Méi kuerzem, méi nei Modeller vun der Pompel goufen entwéckelt, déi kee Schlauch erfuerderen, tatsächlech – den Insulinliwwerungsapparat gëtt direkt op d'Haut plazéiert an all Upassunge fir d'Insulin Liwwerung néideg ginn duerch e PDA-ähnlechen Apparat gemaach deen an engem 6 Foussbereich vum Insulinliwwerungsapparat, a kann an enger Tasche gedroe ginn, an engem Portmonni gehal, oder op engem Tabletop wann Dir schafft.
Wahrscheinlech déi spannendst Innovatioun an der Pompeltechnologie ass d'Fäegkeet d'Pompel ze benotzen an Tandem mat méi neier Glukose Sensing Technologie. Glukosesensoren hunn an de leschte Joren dramatesch verbessert, a sinn eng Optioun fir Patiente fir weider Abléck an hir Mustere vun der Glukose-Äntwert ze kréien fir e méi individuellen Behandlungsregime ze personaliséieren. Déi nei Generatioun vu Sensoren erlaabt de Patient en Echtzäit Glukosewäert ze ginn. Den implantéierbare Sensor kommunizéiert drahtlos mat engem pagergréissten Apparat deen en Écran huet. Den Apparat gëtt an der Noperschaft vum Sensor gehal fir den Transfer vun Daten z'erméiglechen, awer, et kann e puer Meter ewech sinn an nach iwwerdroen Informatioun kréien. Jee no Modell, den Ecran weist d'Bluttzocker Liesung, e Fuedem vu Liesungen iwwer Zäit, and a potential rate of change in the glucose values. The sensors can be programmed to produce a “beep” if blood sugars are in a range that is selected as too high or too low. Some can provide a warning beep if the drop in blood sugar is occurring too quickly.
To take things one step further, there is one particular sensor that is new to the market that is designed to communicate directly with the insulin pump. While the pump does not yet respond directly to information from the sensor, it does “request” a response from the patient if there is a need for adjustments according to the patterns it is programmed to detect. The ultimate goal of this technology is to “close the loop” by continuously sensing what the body needs, and then responding by providing the appropriate dose of insulin. Wärend dës Technologie e puer méi Joer amgaang ass, d'Schrëtt an dës Richtung wuessen weider.