Types of Insulin Pump

With Tubes, Tubeless and Implantable

Types of insulin pump vary by brand, but also by how they're connected to the body. Manufacturers and types of connection are reviewed on this page. Please note that not all types of pumps are available in all countries.

Connected with tubes or infusion sets

These types of insulin pump are the most common and the ones typically referred to when talking about pumps. The pump itself is about the size of a pager and is worn on the outside of the body, for example in a pocket (or yes, in a bra!).

Flexible, yet strong tubing (infusion set) connects the pump to the person. The insulin from the pump travels down the tube and into a small amount of tubing under the skin (cannula). Manufacturers of these pumps include:

Animas Corporation: makers of the OneTouch Ping and the IR 20/20 (older models 1000, 1200, 1250).
Deltec or Smith's Medical: makers of the Cozmo or Cozmore, as it sometimes referred to.
Fornia:makers of China's Fornia insulin pump (not available in Canada).
Medtronic or Minimed: makers of the Paradigm models and various older models (502-522).
Nipro Diabetes Systems makers of the Nipro Amigo (not available in Canada).
Roche/Disetronic makers of the Accu-chek Spirit. (Roche purchased Disetronic a few years back. Disetronic's old D-Tron and H-Tron models are no longer being marketed.)
SOOIL: makers of DANA Diabecare (not available in Canada).

Tubeless Insulin Pump

These pumps sit directly on the skin so inject insulin through the skin without the use of tubes (infusion sets). The manufacturers for these insulin pumps are Insulet Corporation, makers of the Omnipod and Debiotech: makers of the Insulin Nanopump (the pump used in the Flex insulin pump).(as of Feb, 2009 neither are available in Canada.)

Implantable insulin pump

This pump is used primarily in research. It is surgically implanted beneath the skin and the insulin is delivered into the peritoneal area (the space between the abdominal muscles and the organs). The reservoir of insulin is also kept beneath the skin, but can be re-filled from the outside of the body (using a large syringe, about every 45 days according to some of the research). This is not the same as a beta cell implant. A beta cell implant (also known as the Edmonton Protocol) implants only human beta cells and no machinery. For more information on beta cell transplants click this site: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/pancreaticislet/

Before you choose a pump:

Talk with your doctor, diabetes educator and health insurance company before choosing amongst these types of insulin pumps.
Ask about any programming that limits the life-cycle of the pump (eg. does it stop working after so many years?)
Play with the pump. Meet the reps and practice programming boluses, corrections, temporary basal rates. Use the calculators or wizards. Get the feel of the buttons. Do your eyes like the screen and letters?
Know the features. Each pump has all the same basic features, although may perform them differently, but also has some unique features that make it stand out from the others. Again, play with those features don’t just assume the idea is “cool”. Sometimes the statement is true by trying to use the feature on the pump is not so easy or so “usable” for some folks.
Will you be able to get supplies easily? Will the pharmacy order them in? Or do you have to order them online? Will there be border issues involved?
Ask about a cheaper price, or cheaper model and financing. One manufacturer may be offering a deal on their types of insulin pump. A competitor may match that deal if you ask. You won't know till you try. And yes, I have had clients who try and who succeed.

Good luck and good learning!(20090203)

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