Some advantages of an insulin pump is that it eliminates possible spikes due to receiving too much insulin at once, as with an injection. This means a more balanced dosage through the day, and night. This also helps to alleviate the problem of low dipping levels after a night's sleep.

Insulin injections require keeping up with supplies and making sure that insulin vials remain at a comfortable temperature. In the middle of summer, this can be quite difficult to manage.

But there are some problems with using the pump:

One common annoyance is there is no hiding your disease. Most pumps require the wearer to insert a small plastic tube or catheter about a half-inch long into the fat under the skin using a needle in the center of the tube. After insertion the needle is removed, leaving just the soft plastic catheter in place. Usually this catheter is inserted into the abdomen or upper thigh, although other areas can also be used. Flexible tubing connects the catheter to the insulin pump, which is then clipped to a belt or carried in a pocket. The insulin is pumped through the tubing and into the fat under the skin.

At least with injections you can be discreet with your condition. Once you attach yourself to a pump, it is out there for everyone to see.

Another issue is having access to a constant drip-dose of insulin means you are bound to check your blood sugar at least four, or possibly five times per day... without fail. This is because your body may have swings from a meal that your pump will not automatically compensate for. The choice between multiple daily injection therapy and an insulin pump is largely a matter of personal preference, and there are pros and cons to either approach. Pump treatments offer the greatest flexibility to insulin dosing, and the tools for deciding how much insulin to give are getting better and easier to use all the time.

Some people develop an allergic reaction to where the catheter enters the skin. This can be a nasty rash that could be ongoing. Care has to be taken to keep the insertion site clean.

You also have to remember that the pump is a small computer. Like any other electronic device, there is always the possibility of malfunction. If this occurs, the person with diabetes could go into diabetic ketoacidosis.

The final factor, that for many holds the most decisive weight, is its cost. Insulin pumps, as well as their ongoing list of supplies, are expensive. Some insurance carriers might not cover some, or any of this cost, opting instead to offer coverage for the more traditional, and cheaper method of injections.

Insulin pumps can be quite beneficial in eliminating some of the problems with trying to maintain stable blood sugar levels. However, they are not meant to be a scapegoat for those who abuse the system by indulging in the wrong food choices and relying on their insulin pumps to save them.

By Beverleigh H Piepers