Category: Diabetes
Types of insulin pumps available in the market
Insulin helps in regulating the glucose level in the body and deficiency of glucose can lead to diabetes. At times, people may require external supply of insulin because their body may not be able to produce the required insulin. To fulfil this gap people use injections or advanced insulin pumps.
There are several types of insulin pumps available in the market depending on the requirement of the use. These pumps are battery operated devices that contain a reservoir that contains insulin and a microprocessor that helps you adjust the amount that needs to be delivered. It also contains an infusion like that is attached to a tube called cannula which must be replaced in a few weeks. These infusion pumps are different from implantable pumps because they need not be implanted in the body. People can use these pumps with going through a surgical procedure.
The type of insulin pump that you buy will usually depend on the way you plan to attach it to the body. There are three types of insulin pumps namely implantable pumps, insulin pumps that are attached to tubes and tubeless insulin pumps that you can choose from.
Implantable Insulin Pump
These pumps are implanted under the skin using a surgical procedure. Even though these pumps are implanted under the skin, they must be refilled in about 45 days. These implantable pumps are a boom to people who hate pricking themselves or avoid using a bulk monitoring system.
These pumps work by delivering the required dose at regular intervals. There are many scientists who are working on implantable devices that can be attached to pancreas. These pumps will automatically release insulin to ensure the normal working of the pancreas.
Once these pumps are implanted, you don’t require regular treatment to control your blood glucose level. Also, this device does not contain any electronic device which makes it more durable when compared to normal pumps.
Insulin Pump Attached by a Tube
These pumps are one of the most commonly used pumps. These pumps are small devices that you can put in your pocket or attach to the waist band. The insulin in the pump enters the skin with the help of strong but flexible tubes.
These pumps are just like any other pumps and you don’t have to prick yourself every time you use the pump. The length of the tube various depends on the height of the person. When using the pump, it is important that you decide the disconnection of infusion set. It is a good idea to buy a pump that allows disconnect of infusion set from cannula as people with weak eyesight may not be able to disconnect easily it the place of disconnection is changed.
Tubeless Insulin Pump
This pump works by injecting insulin directly on the skin and does not use tubes to inject insulin. The insulin comes in two parts – Personal Diabetes Manager and the Pod. The power supply mechanism, infusion set, reservoir and the pumping mechanism all help in injecting the right supply of insulin on the skin.
It is a highly durable device as it is waterproof and you can carry out any activity without any difficulty. Also since this pump does not have tubes, they can be easily installed. They are lightweight and you can carry them without any difficulty.
Healthy Lifestyle can Reduce Diabetes Risk
If you have a history of diabetes in your family it is important that you make changes in your lifestyle. In a recent study done by researchers at the U.S. National institute of Health, it was found that people can reduce their diabetes risk by about 80 percent if they make changes in their lifestyle.
Most people must be aware that exercising, drinking, smoking and diet have an effect the health of the person. However, the affects of these factors on the diabetes is not yet known.
Jarad Reis, a researcher at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the lead researcher in the study conducted by U.S. National institute of Health, said that some of the factors they studies included body weight, healthy diet, alcohol consumption, physical activity and smoking. Each of these factors played an important role in reducing the risk of diabetes. For instance, having normal weight can reduce by risk of diabetes by over 70 percent. Also, eating healthy food can reduce the risk of diabetes by 15 percent, while people who don’t smoke have 20 percent less risk of developing diabetes. Reis added that people who lead a healthy lifestyle can reduce their diabetes risk by about 80 percent.
To avoid Type 2 diabetes it is important that people eat healthy food, maintain their body weight, quit smoking, exercise regularly and drink alcohol in moderation
The Study
Reis research team collected data of 92,483 women and 114,996 men who were between 50 to 71 years old. These men and women had taken part in Health–AARP Diet and Health Study and did not suffer from cancer, diabetes or heart disease when the study started.
In over a decade of follow-up, about 7.5 percent women and 9.6 percent men had developed diabetes. However, researchers found that for every additional healthy lifestyle habit that men and women developed, their risk of diabetes was reduced. The risk of developing diabetes in men reduced by 31 percent and in women by 39 percent, when they developed an additional healthy lifestyle.
The Findings
Reis found that living a healthy lifestyle can benefit people of all ages. Even if a person adopts a healthy lifestyle in middle ages, their risk of diabetes will be lower.
Experts View on these Findings
Some health experts are of the view that most people are aware that leading a healthy lifestyle can lower the risk of diabetes. However, changing the habits of the person to reduce the risk of diabetes is difficult. For instance, if a person is addicted to smoking, it may not be easy for the person to quit smoking.