It’s only the size of a pager but what it delivers helps hundreds of people with diabetes gain control over their insulin levels and their lives. From daily injections to constantly managing blood sugar levels, millions of Americans diagnosed with diabetes must follow a strict routine to maintain their health. There is now an option

that may help improve the lifestyle of a person who has diabetes. The diabetes insulin pump is available at Providence Memorial Hospital frees a patient from multiple daily injections. The insulin pump is applied below the skin to a usual insulin injection site. The pump and its microprocessors deliver a precise amount of insulin to meet a person’s needs.

Relying on daily long-acting insulin injections to stabilize blood sugar level may be precarious because the body doesn’t absorb insulin in a predictable way. The same dose on one day may not be able to control blood sugar levels the following day. The pager-size diabetes insulin pump delivers fast-acting insulin into the body of a person with diabetes at reguar intervals and can be programmed to give extra doses of insulin when needed. The pump is refilled with insulin every two to three days. It is detachable allowing people with diabetes to disconnect to go swimming or shower.

The diabetes insulin pump may help reduce the risk of hypoglycemia. People with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes may be able to use the pump. A physician’s referral is required. Once a candidate has been accepted, he or she will be enrolled into an educational program to learn how to use the pump. For more information on the diabetes insulin pump, please call the Sierra Providence Health Network Consumer Information Line at 577-6000.