Insulin pumps

An insulin pump is a device that regularly delivers small amounts of insulin to the body throughout the day. It is used by people with diabetes to control their blood sugar levels.

There are different types of pump, and they can worn or carried in different ways. Tethered pumps rely on cannulas to deliver insulin and can be attached to belt or put into a pocket. Others, like patch- or micro-pumps, can be stuck onto the skin.

Most insulin pumps can be worn underneath your clothes, so they can’t be seen.

Your diabetes team will help you get familiar with your insulin pump.³

Even though you don’t need to use injections if you have an insulin pump, but it’s useful to have a spare in case your device stops working.¹

The healthcare professional responsible for your treatment plan will help you set up the device, so it gives you the correct dose of insulin for your needs. They will also show you how to attach the pump to your skin and how to change it every few days.^{1, 2}

After 2 to 3 days, the pump should be moved to a different area of the body and the tube that goes under your skin should be replaced. This is to make sure the insulin still works properly, and it avoids your skin around the device from going hard and lumpy, itchy and tender. ^{1, 3}

You may be able to get an insulin pump on the NHS if you have type 1 diabetes and:

• You experience frequent hyperglycaemic or hypoglycaemic attacks
• Your HbA1c (average blood sugar test) is 69mmol/mol or over regardless of trying to manage your glucose levels yourself.³

You need to also be able to show the healthcare professional managing your diabetes treatment that you are regularly injecting insulin, checking your glucose levels 4 times a day and keeping track of your carbohydrate intake.³

Children over 12 will only be offered a pump if they have low blood sugar and can’t get to their target HbA1c without severe high blood sugar, or if their HbA1c is continually too high despite managing their diabetes well. 

If you are not eligible for an insulin pump on the NHS, it can cost between £2000 to £3000 to get one.³

There are funding options available if you don’t meet the criteria for an NHS insulin pump. Funding is available if you:

• Are pregnant
• Have acute painful neuropathy or symptomatic autonomic neuropathy
• Are not confident with understanding hypoglycaemia
• Have extreme insulin sensitivity or resistance
• Have a phobia of needles
• Are concerned about hypoglycaemia
• Not able to exercise or eat properly
• Have problems managing your diabetes at school or feel excluded from school life.⁴

Occasionally, your GP may not think it is suitable for you to have an insulin pump. Where this is the case, you can appeal their decision and request to be referred to a pump specialist for a second opinion.